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)pular  Official  Guide 


TO 


Zoological  -park 

By 
WILLIAM    T.    HORNADAY,    Sc.D. 

Director  and  General  Curator 


GORILLA    EDITION 

WITH 

MAPS,  PLANS  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS 

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ONLY  AUTHORIZED  GUIDE        Price  25  Cents 


COMPLETELY    REVISED    AND    EXTENDED 


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PENINSULA  BEAR:  IVAN 


POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE 


TO  THE 


New  York  Zoological  Park 


By  WILLIAM  T.  HORNADAY,  Sc.D. 

Director  and  General  Curator 
ILLUSTRATED  BY  ELWIN  R.  SANBORN 


WITH  MAPS,   PLANS  AND   ILLUSTRATIONS 


THIRTEENTH  EDITION  — SEPTEMBER,  1915 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE 

NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY 

1 1  WALL  STREET.  NEW  YORK 


1st  Edition,  October, 


2d 

3d 

4th 

5th 

6th 

7th 

8th 

9th 

10th 

llth 

12th 

13th 


May, 

December, 
October, 
June, 


October, 
June, 

September, 


1899—  3000 

1900 —  5000 

1900 —  5000 

1901—  3000 
1902 — 10000 
1903—10000 
1904 — 15000 
1906—  7000 
1907 — HOOOO 
1909 — 30000 
1911 — 30000 
1913 — 40000 
1915—20000 


Copyright,  1899,  1900,  1901,  1902,  1903,  1904.  1906,  1907, 
1909,  1911,  1913  and  1915. 

NEW  YORK   ZOOLOGICAL   SOCIETY 


PREFACE 

The  publication  of  this  revised  and  extended  edition  of 
the  Guide  to  the  Zoological  Park  is  necessary  in  order  to 
bring  our  most  important  collections  down  to  date.  With 
the  completion  of  the  Zebra  House  and  Eagle  Aviary,  we 
are  now  able  to  offer  a  Guide  Book  to  the  Zoological  Park 
as  practically  finished. 

The  visitor  is  not  to  understand,  however,  that  with  the 
completion  of  the  features  named  above  nothing  more  will 
remain  to  be  done.  An  institution  of  this  kind  never 
reaches  a  state  of  absolute  completion,  with  no  further 
possibilities  of  improvement.  But  the  building  of  boundary 
walls,  and  the  rebuilding  of  temporary  entrances,  are  mat- 
ters of  small  moment  in  comparison  with  the  completion  of 
a  grand  series  of  installations  for  animals,  and  buildings 
for  public  comfort. 

Few  indeed  are  the  persons  who  know,  or  who  ever  will 
know,  the  extent  to  which  both  the  general  design  and  the 
details  of  the  Zoological  Park  have  been  originated,  and 
hammered  out  of  the  raw  materials.  From  the  inception 
of  the  undertaking,  the  work  of  development  has  involved 
a  continuous  struggle  to  meet  new  conditions.  Although 
precedents  and  models  for  things  to  be  done  were  sought 
far  and  wide,  in  all  save  a  very  few  instances,  our  needs 
were  so  peculiar,  and  so  different  from  those  of  other 
zoological  gardens  and  parks,  we  have  found  really  very 
little  that  we  could  copy.  The  abundant-room  idea  on 
which  the  Zoological  Park  was  founded,  and  our  desire  for 
the  full  utilization  of  the  works  of  nature,  have  from  the 
first  taxed  the  creative  faculties  of  the  Society  to  the  ut- 
most. 

It  has  been  gratifying  to  find  in  other  zoological  estab- 
lishments a  number  of  features  which  we  could  utilize  here, 
thereby  saving  ourselves  something  in  the  eternal  grind  of 
invention  and  experiment,  and  we  have  gladly  made  prom- 
inent mention  of  such  cases. 

While  it  is  possible  to  complete  the  equipment  of  animal 
installations  for  a  Zoological  Park,  and  fill  them  with  fine 
collections,  the  demand  for  more  animals  is  continuous. 
Our  wild  creatures  are  not  immortal;  and,  like  human  be- 
ings, they  live  out  their  allotted  lives  and  pass  away.  The 
great  majority  do  not  perpetuate  themselves  in  captivity, 


2051918 


O  POPULAR  OFFICIAL  GUIDE. 

and  the  depleted  ranks  must  be  filled  by  new  gifts  and 
new  purchases.  Gifts  of  specimens,  and  funds  for  pur- 
chases, must  constantly  be  forthcoming. 

In  the  acquisition  of  certain  representative  species  of 
great  variety  but  particular  desirability,  the  Society  has 
been  much  favored  by  its  friends,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 
Frequently  it  happens  that  the  greatest  zoological  rarities 
are  obtainable  only  through  the  good  will  and  tireless  in- 
dustry of  friends  who  travel  into  the  most  remote  and  in- 
accessible regions  of  the  earth.  It  is  to  such  sources  that  we 
owe  our  musk-ox  herd,  walrus,  mountain  goat  herd,  spec- 
tacled bear  and  many  other  species. 

The  Executive  Committee  makes  grateful  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  loyal  and  generous  support  it  has  constantly 
received  from  the  Board  of  Managers,  the  members  of 
the  Zoological  Society,  and  from  the  Government  of  the 
City  of  New  York.  Thanks  to  a  judicious  union  of  these 
forces,  the  development  of  the  Zoological  Park  has  gone 
forward  rapidly  and  satisfactorily.  Although  the  actual 
period  of  construction  has  been  remarkably  short  for  so  vast 
an  undertaking,  everything  constructed  is  of  the  most  per- 
manent character.  It  is  only  just  to  note  the  fact  that 
while  the  Zoological  Park  is  an  institution  of  national  in- 
terest and  importance,  and  free  to  all  the  world,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  gifts  of  animals  it  has  been  created  and 
is  maintained  wholly  by  the  citizens  of  the  City  of  New 
York.  The  State  has  contributed  nothing. 

THE  EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 
JUNE  1,  1913. 


CONTENTS. 

Statistics  of  the  Zoological  Park 

Officers    of    the    Society 11 

Origin     13 

Means  of  Access 16 

Admission     17 

Physical  Aspect  of  the  Grounds 21 

MAMMALS. 

Bison    Ranges 26 

Mountain    STieep    Hill 29 

Antelope    House 35 

Small-Deer   House 42 

Miscellaneous    Mammals 49 

White    Mountain    Goat 50 

Prong-Horned    Antelope 51 

Camel    House 53 

Llama    House 55 

North    American    Deer 57 

Zebra  House 63 

Asiatic  and  European  Deer 66 

Lion    House 71 

Sea-Lions     78 

Primate   House 80 

Elephant    House 89 

Wolf   Dens    98 

Fox    Dens 101 

Otter  Pools 103 

Small-Mammal  House 104 

Puma  and  Lynx  House 115 

Burrowing   Mammals 116 

Prairie-Dog    Village 118 

Bear  Dens 119 

Raccoon    Tree 128 

Beaver    Pond 128 

Economic    Rodent-Reptile    Collection 130 

BIRDS. 

Goose  Aviary 133 

Flying   Cage 135 

Aquatic-Bird    House 141 

Eagle  and  Vulture  Aviary 143 

Wild  Turkey  Enclosure ....    146 

Large-Bird   House 146 

Wild   Fowl   Pond 153 

Pheasant  and   Pigeon   Aviary 155 

Ostrich    House 1 62 

Cranes    167 

REPTILES. 

Reptile    House 171 

Turtles    and    Tortoises 172 

Crocodiles  and  Alligators 175 

Lizards    17 

Serpents    179 

Batrachians  or  Amphibians ' 182 

INSECTS. 

Insect   Collection..  185 

Index   .  188 


MAPS. 

Page 

Map  of  Zoological  Park Second  page  of  cover 

Sketch  Map,  New  York 14 

Sketch  Map,  Vicinity  of  Park 16 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 
Peninsula  Bear:  Ivan .. Frontispiece 

Baird  Court  and  Concourse 12 

The  Boat  House 18 

Boating  on  Bronx  Lake 20 

White-Tailed  Deer 24 

American  Bison 26 

European  Bison 27 

White-Fronted     Musk-Ox 30 

Big-Horn  Mountain  Sheep 30 

Mouflon 32 

Arcal  Sheep 32 

Himalayan  Tahr 32 

Burrhel 32 

Chamois 33 

Markhor 33 

Aoudad 33 

Persian  Wild  Goat 33 

Nilgai:   Indian  Antelope 36 

Nubian  Giraffes 38 

Beatrix  Antelope 40 

Blessbok 40 

Leucoryx  Antelope 41 

White-Tailed  Gnu 41 

Eland 42 

Sable  Antelope 43 

Redunca  Antelope 44 

Sasin  Antelope 46 

Great  Gray  Kangaroo 48 

Rocky  Mountain  Goat 49 

American  Prong-Horned  Antelope.    52 

Bactrian  Camel 53 

Alpaca 54 

Vicunia 55 

American  Elk 58 

European  Red  Deer 58 

Development  of  Antlers 61 

Grant  Zebra 64 

Prjevalsky  Horses 65 

Axis  Deer 68 

Burmese  Deer 69 

Jaguar 72 

Cheetah 73 

Barbary  Lion 74 

Snow  Leopard 75 

Atlantic  Walrus 79 

Chimpanzee,  "  Baldy  " 82 

Orang-Utan 84 

Humboldt  Woolly  Monkey 85 

Japanese  Red-Faced  Monkey 88 


PAGE 

Pig-Tailed  Macaque 88 

Slow  Lemur 89 

Siamang 89 

Elephant  House 90 

Indian  Elephant 92 

African  Elephants 93 

African  Two-Horned  Rhinoceros ...   94 

Indian  Rhinoceros 95 

Pygmy  Hippopotami 96 

Timber  Wolf 99 

Coyote:    Prairie  Wolf 100 

Swift  or  Kit  Fox 102 

Red  Fox 103 

Ocelot 106 

Common  Genet 107 

African  Porcupine Ill 

Tamandua 112 

Great  Ant-Eater 113 

Six-Banded  Armadillo 114 

Two-Toed  Sloth 115 

Polar  Bear  Den 120 

Polar  Bear  " Silver  King" 122 

Syrian  Bear 123 

Spectacled  Bear 126 

European  Brown  Bear 127 

Brazilian  Tree  Porcupine 131 

Mute  and  Trumpeter  Swans 133 

Cereopsis  Geese 136 

White-Faced  Glossy  Ibis 137 

Roseate  Spoonbill 137 

Brown  and  White  Pelicans 140 

Great  Horned  Owl 142 

Spectacled  Owl 142 

Eared  Vulture 143 

Lammergeyer 1 43 

King  Vulture 145 

Black  Vulture 145 

Harpy  Eagle 145 

Griffon  Vulture 145 

Wild  Turkey 147 

Secretary  Bird 148 

Seriema 148 

Great  Crowned  Pigeon 150 

Sulphur  Crested  Cockatoo 151 

Toco  Toucan 151 

Ducks  Feeding 154 

Pheasant  Aviary 156 

Manchurian  Eared  Pheasant 158 

Indian  Peacock 1 59 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

North  African  Ostrich 163 

Rhea 164 

Cassowary 164 

Emeus 165 

Little  Brown  Crane 167 

Demoiselle  Crane 167 

Asiatic  White  Crane 168 

Paradise  Crane 168 

Whooping  Crane 169 

Crowned  Crane 169 

Adjutant 169 

Jabiru 169 

Mastigure 170 

Horned  Rattlesnake. .  .  .  .  170 


PAGE 

Hog-Nosed  Snake 170 

Gecko 170 

Tree  Frog 170 

Giant  Tortoise 173 

Alligator  Pool 176 

Venezuelan  Boa 177 

Rhinoceros  Viper 180 

Cobra- De-CapeUo 181 

Metamorphosis  of  the  Leopard  Frog. 184 

Giant  Centipede 186 

Tarantula 187 

Red-Winged  Locust 187 

Hercules  Beetle. .  .  .  .  187 


STATISTICS  OF  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 
January,   1915. 

Final  plan  of  the  Zoological  Park  approved  by  Park  Board,  November 
22,  189T. 

Zoological  Society  assumed  control  of  grounds,  July  1,  1898. 

First  building  begun,  August   11,   1898. 

Park  formally  opened  to  the  public.  November  9,  1899. 

Administration    and    Service    Buildings _ 3 

Large  Animal  Buildings    (all  heated) 14 

Small   Animal   Buildings    (4   heated) _ 10 

Large  Groups  of  Outdoor  Dens,  Aviaries  and  Corrals 13 

Animal  Storehouses,   for  winter  use 3 

Restaurants    2 

Public-Comfort    Buildings ~ 6 

Entrances   _ _ 7 

Area  of  Park  Land  and  Water 264  acres 

Area  of  Water 30  acres 

Walks    and    Roads _ 7.78  miles 

Fences    ..  10.55  miles 


LIVE  ANIMALS  IN  THE  COLLECTIONS. 
January,    1915. 

Mammals _ _ _.        204  species,       586  specimens. 

Birds    811         "  2,753  " 

Reptiles  _ 164        "          1,014  " 


Total   1,179  4,353 

Attendance  of  visitors  in  1914 2,020,433 

Total  attendance  of  visitors  from  1899  to  Jan.,  1915 19,325,590 


NEW   YORK   ZOOLOGICAL   SOCIETY 

President, 
HENRY  FAIRFIELD  OSBORN. 


MADISON  GRANT,  Secretary,  11  Wall  Street. 
PERCY  R.   PYNE,   Treasurer,  30  Pine  Street. 


EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE 
MADISON  GRANT,  Chairman. 

PERCY  R.  PYNE,  WATSON  B.  DICKERMAN 

SAMUEL  THORNE,  WM.  PIERSON  HAMILTON, 

WILLIAM  WHITE  NILES,         FRANK   K.   STURGIS, 

LISPENARD  STEWART, 
HENRY  FAIRFIELD  OSBORN,  ex-officio. 

GENERAL  OFFICERS 
WILLIAM  T.  HORNADAY,  Director 

H.  J.  SHORTER A ssistant  Secretary 

R.  L.  CERERO Assistant  to  Treasurer 

DR.  GEORGE  S.  HUNT1NGTON Prosector 

C.  GRANT  LA  FARGE Architect 

H.  DEB.  PARSONS Consulting  Engineer 

N 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 

WILLIAM  T.  HORNADAY,  Sc.D. 

Director  and  General  Curator. 

H.  R.  MITCHELL Chief  Clerk  and  Disbursing  Officer 

R.  L.  DITMARS Curator  of  Reptiles,  Asst.  Curator  of  Mammals 

C.  WILLIAM  BEEBE... Curator  of  Birds 

LEE  S.  CRANDALL Assistant  Curator  of  Birds 

W.  REID  BLAIR,  D.V.S.- -Veterinarian 

H.  W.  MERKEL Chief  Forester  and  Constructor 

ELWIN  R.  SANBORN _...:.._ Editor  and  Photographer 

GEORGE  M.   BEERBOWER_ Civil  Engineer 

WILLIAM  MITCHELL.......  ......Cashier 


O  si 


GENERAL  STATUS 
OF  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK. 

Origin. — The  New  York  Zoological  Park  originated  with 
the  New  York  Zoological  Society,  a  scientific  body  incor- 
porated in  1895,  under  a  special  charter  granted  by  the 
Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York.  The  declared  objects 
of  the  Society  are  three  in  number — "A  public  Zoological 
Park ;  the  preservation  of  our  native  animals ;  the  promotion 
of  zoology."  The  Society  has  enrolled  among  its  various 
classes  over  2,000  members. 

Henry  Fairfield  Osborn  is  the  President  of  the  Society. 
The  affairs  of  the  Society  are  managed  by  a  Board  of  Mana- 
gers of  thirty-six  persons,  which  meets  three  times  each 
year.  The  planning  and  general  development  of  the  Zoo- 
logical Society  is  in  the  hands  of  an  Executive  Committee 
of  eight  members,  as  follows :  Madison  Grant,  Chairman ; 
Percy  R.  Pyne,  Samuel  Thorne,  William  White  Niles,  Watson 
B.  Dickerman,  Wm.  Pierson  Hamilton,  Frank  K.  Sturgis, 
Lispenard  Stewart  and  Henry  Fairfield  Osborn.  ex-officio. 
Madison  Grant,  the  Chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee, 
is  also  Secretary  of  the  Society,  and  his  office  is  at  No.  11 
Wall  Street.  Dr.  William  T.  Hornaday  is  the  Director  and 
General  Curator  of  the  Zoological  Park,  and  his  office  is  now 
located  in  the  Administration  Building  on  Baird  Court.  The 
address  is  185th  Street  and  Southern  Boulevard.  The  So- 
ciety assumed  control  of  the  grounds  on  July  1.  1898,  and 
began  the  first  excavation,  for  the  Bird  House,  on  August 
llth.  The  Park  Department  began  work,  on  the  Wild-Fowl 
Pond,  on  August  29,  1898. 

Sources  of  Income. — The  funds  devoted  to  the  develop- 
ment of  the  Zoological  Park  have  been  derived  from  the 
following  sources : 

1.  From  the  Zoological  Society,  obtained  by  subscriptions 
from  private  citizens — funds  for  plans,  for  the  erection  of 
buildings,    aviaries,    dens    and    other    accommodations    for 
animals ;  and  for  the  purchase  of  animals. 

2.  From  the  City  of  New  York — by  vote  of  the  Board  of 
Estimate  and  Apportionment — funds  for  the  construction  of 
walks,  roads,  sewers  and  drainage,  water  supply,  public  com- 


14 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  15 

fort  buildings,  entrances,  grading,  excavating  of  large  ponds 
and  lakes,  annual  maintenance,  and  also  for  animal  build- 
ings. 

The  Zoological  Society  has  expended,  of  its  own  funds, 
for  plans,  construction  and  live  animals,  over  $641,000.  TJiis 
sum  has  been  derived  from  its  special  subscription  fund,  and 
from  the  annual  dues  and  fees  of  its  members. 

Privileges. — Because  of  the  fact  that  the  Zoological  Soci- 
ety has  undertaken  to  furnish  all  the  animals  for  the  Zoolog- 
ical Park,  the  City  of  New  York  has  agreed  that  all  the 
revenue-producing  privileges  of  the  Park  shall  be  controlled 
by  the  Society.  All  net  profits  derived  from  the  restaurants, 
boats,  refreshments,  riding  animals,  the  sale  of  photographs, 
books,  etc.,  and  all  admission  fees,  are  expended  by  the 
Society  in  the  purchase  of  animals  for  the  Park.  It  is  well 
that  visitors  should  know  that  all  net  profits  realised  in 
the  Park  go  directly  toivard  the  increase  of  the  'animal  collec- 
tions. 

The  Society  maintains  a  supply  of  boats  for  hire,  and 
riding  animals  of  various  kinds  for  the  amusement  of  chil- 
dren. 

Location. — The  Zoological  Park  is  the  geographical  cen- 
ter of  that  portion  of  Greater  New  York  now  known  as 
Bronx  County.  From  east  to  west  it  is  half-way  between 
the  Hudson  River  and  Long  Island  Sound,  and  from  north 
to  south  it  is  midway  between  the  mouth  of  the  Harlem 
River  and  Mount  Vernon.  From  the  City  Hall  to  the  Reptile 
House  the  distance  is  eleven  miles.  The  distance  by  auto- 
mobile from  the  Central  Park  Plaza  to  the  Concourse  En- 
trance is  9^  miles.  The  Northwest  Entrance  is  about  half  a 
mile  from  Fordham  station  on  the  Harlem  Railway. 

The  area  of  the  Park  is  264  acres,  divided  as  follows : 

Land  area  west  of  the  Boston  Road 150  acres. 

Land  area  east  of  the  Boston  Road 80     " 

Bronx  Lake   25     " 

Lake  Agassiz   6^2" 

Aquatic  Mammals'  Pond,  Cope  Lake  and 

Beaver  Pond    3^" 


Total  area   .  264  acres. 


16 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


SKETCH  MAP  OF  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK  AND  VICINITY. 

MEANS  OF  ACCESS. 

Via  the  Subway,  to  the  Boston  Road  Entrance. — The  ter- 
minus of  the  eastern  branch  of  the  Subway,  at  "180th  St., 
Zoological  Park,"  lands  visitors  at  the  southeastern  en- 
trances to  the  Zoological  Park,  at  West  Farms.  Visitors 
from  points  below  96th  Street  must  be  careful  to  board  the 
"Bronx  Park"  trains,  and  not  the  "Broadway"  trains. 

Routes  for  Automobiles  or  Carriages. — Via  Central  Park, 
Lenox  Avenue,  Macomb's  Dam  Bridge  and  Jerome  Avenue 
or  Grand  Concourse  to  Pelham  Avenue,  thence  eastward  to 
the  Concourse  Entrance,  where  motor  cars  and  carriages  are 
admitted  to  the  Park. 

Via  the  Third  Avenue  Elevated.— The  Third  Avenue  Ele- 
vated Railway  has  been  extended  to  Bedford  Park,  and 
visitors  coming  to  the  Zoological  Park  on  it  or  on  the  Har- 
lem Railroad  should  alight  at  Fordham  Station,  from  which 
the  northwest  entrance  is  half  a  mile  distant,  due  eastward, 
on  Pelham  Avenue,  via  the  Union  Railway  surface  cars. 

Surface  Cars. — The  Southern  Boulevard  and  the  Zoo- 
logical Park  Cars  of  the  Union  Railway  now  run  to  both 
the  Crotona  (Southwest)  Entrance  and  the  Fordham  En 
trance.  The  Crosstown  cars  of  the  same  line  intersect  the 
Southern  Boulevard  three  blocks  south  of  the  Crotona 
Entrance. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  17 

ADMISSION. 

Free  Admission. — On  all  holidays,  and  on  Sunday,  Tues- 
day, Wednesday,  Friday  and  Saturday,  the  Zoological  Park 
is  open  free  to  the  public. 

Pay  Admission. — On  every  Monday  and  Thursday,  save 
when  either  of  those  days  falls  on  a  holiday,  all  members  of 
the  Zoological  Society  who  surrender  coupons  from  their 
membership  tickets,  and  all  other  persons  holding  tickets 
from  the  Society,  will  be  admitted  free.  All  other  persons 
seeking  admission  will  be  admitted  on  payment  of  twenty- 
five  cents  for  each  adult,  and  fifteen  cents  for  each  child 
under  twelve  years  of  age.  Tickets  are  sold  only  at  the 
entrance  gates. 

Holidays  on  Pay  Days. — "Whenever  a  legal  holiday  falls 
on  a  Monday  or  Thursday,  admission  to  the  Park  will  be 
free  on  that  day. 

Hours  for  Opening  and  Closing. — From  May  1st  to  No- 
vember 1st  the  gates  will  be  opened  at  9  A.  M.  daily,  and 
closed  half  an  hour  before  sunset.  From  November  1st  to 
May  1st  the  gates  will  open  at  10  A.  M. 

Entrances,  Walks,  etc. — The  portion  of  the  Zoological 
Park  situated  west  of  the  Boston  Eoad  has  been  enclosed. 
Access  to  this  area  is  provided  by  six  entrances,  one  situated 
at  each  corner — one  on  the  Boston  Road  and  one  at  the 
bridge  on  Pelham  Avenue.  The  latter  is  a  carriage  entrance 
for  visitors  wishing  to  drive  to  the  north  end  of  Baird 
Court.  From  all  these  entrances  broad  walks  lead  into  the 
Park  and  through  it,  reaching  all  the  collections  of  animals 
now  installed. 

Carriage  Roads. — The  only  wagon  road  which  enters  the 
central  portion  of  the  Park  now  occupied  by  animals  is  the 
Service  Road,  which  enters  from  the  Southern  Boulevard, 
at  185th  Street,  and  runs  eastward,  to  the  Service  Building, 
Reptile  House,  Bear  Dens,  and  Rocking  Stone  Restaurant. 

This  road  is  for  business  purposes  only,  and  is  not  open  for 
the  vehicles  of  visitors.  It  is  utterly  impossible  to  admit 
carriages  to  the  center  of  the  Park,  save  those  of  officers 
entering  on  business,  and  visitors  must  not  ask  for  exceptions 
to  this  very  necessary  rule. 

Automobile  and  Carriage  Entrance. — A  fine  public  car- 
riage road  and  concourse,  leading  from  Pelham  Avenue 
Bridge  and  to  the  upper  end  of  Baird  Court,  was  completed 
in  1908.  This  drive  is  open  to  carriages  or  motors,  daily, 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  19 

and  it  affords  easy  access  to  the  most  important  group  of 
buildings.  It  is  subject  to  the  same  regulations  as  all  other 
entrances,  except  that  carriages  and  automobiles  are  ad- 
mitted. 

The  Boston  Road,  which  runs  through  the  Park  from 
south  to  north,  near  the  western  bank  of  the  Bronx  Lake,  is 
open  at  all  hours.  It  has  recently — and  for  the  first  time — 
been  finely  improved  by  the  Park  Department  for  the  Bor- 
ough of  the  Bronx,  and  a  drive  through  it  affords  a  fine 
view  of  the  eastern  side  of  the  Buffalo  Range,  and  the  finest 
portion  of  the  heavy  forest  of  the  Zoological  Park. 

As  a  matter  of  course,  the  ranges  of  the  buffalo,  antelope, 
deer,  moose,  and  elk,  are  in  full  view  from  the  Kingsbridge 
Road  and  Southern  Boulevard,  and  the  Zoological  Society 
has  planned  that  the  view  from  those  avenues  shall  be  left 
open  sufficiently  that  the  herds  may  be  seen  to  good  ad- 
vantage. 

The  Rocking  Stone  Restaurant,  No.  46,  has  been  designed 
to  serve  all  the  purposes  that  its  name  implies.  It  contains 
dining-rooms  in  which  full  meals  may  be  obtained,  lunch- 
rooms wherein  choice  food  will  be  served  at  popular  prices, 
and  in  the  basement,  toilet-rooms  will  be  found. 

The  Service  Building,  No.  28. — Near  the  Reptile  House, 
and  at  the  geographical  center  of  the  enclosed  grounds,  is 
situated  a  building  which  contains  the  Bureau  of  Adminis- 
tration of  the  Zoological  Park.  Here  will  be  found  the  offices 
of  the  Chief  Clerk,  several  other  Park  officers,  and  the  work- 
shops and  storerooms. 

Children  lost  in  the  Park,  and  property  lost  or  found, 
should  be  reported  without  delay  at  the  Chief  Clerk's  office 
in  this  building.  The  telephone  call  of  the  Zoological  Park 
is  953  Tremont. 

Wheeled  Chairs. — By  persons  desiring  them,  wheeled 
chairs  can  always  be  obtained  at  the  entrances,  by  applying 
to  gatekeepers,  or  at  the  office  of  the  Chief  Clerk,  in  the 
Service  Building.  The  cost  is  25  cents  per  hour;  with  an 
attendant,  50  cents  per  hour. 

Arrangement  of  Collections. — Inasmuch  as  the  physical 
features  of  the  Zoological  Park  grounds  were  important  fac- 
tors in  locating  the  various  collections  of  animals,  a  perfect 
zoological  arrangement  was  impossible.  The  existing  plan 
represents  the  limit  of  acceptable  possibilities  in  grouping 
related  animals. 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  21 

The  entire  southern  and  western  sides  of  the  Park  are 
exclusively  devoted  to  the  Hoofed  Animals,  in  addition  to 
which  other  members  of  that  Order  will  be  found  at  the 
Elephant  and  Small-Mammal  Houses.  The  Carnivorous 
Animals  will  be  found  at  the  Lion  House,  Wolf  and  Fox 
Dens,  Small-Mammal  House  and  Bear  Dens.  The  Birds  are 
in  two  groups ;  one  in  the  lower  end  of  Bird  Valley,  and  the 
Large  Bird-House  on  Baird  Court;  the  other  around  the 
Wild-Fowl  Pond,  south  of  the  Wolf  Dens. 

The  existence  of  six  entrances  to  the  Park  renders  it  im- 
possible to  lay  out  an  all-embracing  "tour"  for  the  visitor, 
and  develop  the  Guide  Book  accordingly.  The  various  col- 
lections will  be  handled  in  zoological  groups,  but  the  various 
groups  cannot  follow  each  other  in  zoological  sequence.  The 
table  of  contents  and  a  comprehensive  index  will  render 
each  item  of  the  subject  matter  quickly  available. 


PHYSICAL  ASPECT  OF  THE  GROUNDS. 

The  extreme  length  of  the  Park  from  north  to  south  is 
4,950  feet,  or  330  feet  less  than  one  mile ;  and  its  extreme 
width  is  3,120  feet,  or  three-fifths  of  a  mile.  Roughly  es- 
timated, one-third  of  the  land  area  is  covered  by  heavy 
forest,  one-third  by  open  forest,  and  the  remaining  third  con- 
sists of  open  meadows  and  glades.  The  highest  point  of 
land  in  the  Park  is  the  crest  of  Rocking  Stone  Hill,  the 
elevation  of  which  is  94.8  feet  above  sea  level. 

Topography. — Speaking  broadly,  the  Zoological  Park  is 
composed  of  granite  ridges  running  from  north  to  south. 
In  many  places  their  crests  have  been  denuded  of  earth  by 
the  great  glacier  which  once  pushed  its  edge  as  far  south  as 
New  York  City.  In  the  valleys  lying  between  these  glacier- 
scraped  ridges,  great  quantities  of  sandy,  micaceous  soil 
have  been  deposited ;  but  in  one  spot — the  Wild-Fowl  Pond 
— what  was  once  a  green,  glacial  lake  fifteen  feet  deep,  pres- 
ently became  a  vast  rock-walled  silo  filled  with  vegetable 
matter  and  a  trembling  bog  of  peat.  Everywhere  in  the  Park 
glacial  boulders  of  rough  granite  or  smoothly  rounded  trap- 
rock,  varying  in  size  from  a  cobble-stone  to  the  thirty-ton 
Rocking  Stone,  have  been  dropped  just  where  the  warm 
southern  sun  freed  them  from  the  ice.  The  Park  contains 
thousands  of  them,  many  of  which  have  been  removed  from 
walks  and  building  sites  only  with  great  labor. 


22  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

In  three  of  the  four  principal  valleys  of  the  Park,  bogs 
have  been  converted  into  ponds,  and  in  the  largest  and  deep- 
est of  all  lie  Bronx  Lake  and  Lake  Agassiz.  The  bed-rock 
underlying  or  cropping  out  in  the  Park  exhibits  pink  gran- 
ite, gray  granite,  rotten  gneiss,  and  quartz  in  bewildering 
variety.  Occasionally  in  trench-digging  a  ledge  is  encoun- 
tered which  yields  good  building-stone  for  rough  work,  but 
usually  our  rock  is  so  full  of  mica  as  to  be  worthless. 

The  water-levels  in  the  various  portions  of  the  Park  are 
as  follows: 

Above  Sea  Level. 

Surface  of  Bronx  Lake 20.40  feet 

Surface  of  Lake  Agassiz 31.70     " 

Surface  of  Cope  Lake  and  Duck  Ponds.  .   47.00     " 

Surface  of  Wild-Fowl  Pond 65.00    " 

Surface  of  Beaver  Pond 44.00    " 

The  floor  levels  of  some  of  the  important  buildings  are  as 
follows : 

Above  Sea  Level. 

Of  the  Antelope  House 88  feet 

Of  the  Reptile  House 78 

Of  the  Lion  House 64 

Of  the  Aquatic-Bird  House 57     " 

Soil. — The  soil  varies  from  rich  black  muck  in  the  valleys, 
to  light  and  very  dry  soil,  full  of  mica  and  sand,  on  the 
ridges  and  meadows.  Where  not  packed  hard,  the  latter  is 
very  porous,  and  the  heaviest  rainfall  is  quickly  absorbed, 
or  carried  away  on  the  surface.  As  a  result,  the  valleys  are 
always  moist  and  rich  in  grass,  and  the  slopes  and  ridges 
are  always  dry  and  warm. 

Streams  and  Ponds. — The  Zoological  Park  contains  about 
34  acres  of  still  water,  of  which  Bronx  Lake  comprises  25 
acres,  Lake  Agassiz  5^  acres,  Cope  Lake,  the  Wild-Fowl 
Pond,  and  Beaver  Pond  together,  about  3^  acres.  The 
two  larger  lakes  are  fed  by  the  Bronx  River,  which  drains 
a  valley  about  15  miles  long.  Even  in  the  driest  seasons  the 
volume  of  water  carried  down  by  the  Bronx  River  is  suffi- 
cient to  keep  the  lakes  well  filled.  The  areas  of  still  water 
available  for  animal  collections  are  very  generous  for  an 
institution  like  this,  and  are  highly  prized. 

The  Waterfall. — At  the  lower  end  of  Lake  Agassiz,  and 
about  300  feet  above  the  Boston  Road  Bridge,  is  a  natural 
waterfall  nearly  12  feet  in  height,  where  the  Bronx  River 
falls  over  a  rugged  ledge  of  pink  granite.  In  times  of  high 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  23 

water  the  foaming  flood  that  thunders  over  the  rocks  makes 
an  imposing  spectacle,  and  it  constitutes  a  most  unusual 
feature  to  be  found  in  a  city  park.  During  the  year  1901, 
an  improvement  was  made  which  added  very  greatly  to  the 
beauty  of  this  feature  by  extending  the  rock  ledge  about 
200  feet  farther,  to  the  rocky  side  of  Wilson  Hill,  thereby 
greatly  increasing  the  water  area  of  Lake  Agassiz,  and  at  the 
same  time  forming  a  beautiful  island. 

Forests. — The  crowning  glory  of  the  Zoological  Park  is 
the  magnificent  forest  growth  which  covers,  thickly  or 
sparsely,  about  two-thirds  of  its  land  area.  It  consists  chiefly 
of  white,  scarlet,  black,  red  and  pin  oaks,  tulip,  sweet  gum, 
hickory,  beech,  sassafras,  maple,  wild  cherry,  hornbeam,  dog- 
wood, tupelo,  hemlock  and  cedar;  but  there  are  at  least 
thirty  other  species  of  trees  and  shrubs.  Thanks  to  the 
wise  foresight  and  broad  views  of  David  and  Philip  Lydig, 
who  for  about  eighty  years  were  the  sole  owners  of  nearly 
the  whole  of  the  Zoological  Park  site,  the  virgin  forest  was 
not  cut  down  for  firewood  or  lumber,  but  was  carefully  pre- 
served for  posterity.  As  the  legal  custodian  of  this  splendid 
domain  of  Nature,  the  Zoological  Society  is  as  rapidly  as 
possible  going  over  the  entire  forest,  to  arrest  decay  and 
death,  and  take  all  needed  measures  for  the  preservation  of 
the  trees.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  nowhere  else  within  fifty 
miles  of  New  York  can  there  be  found  any  more  beautiful 
forests  than  those  in  the  central  and  eastern  portions  of  the 
Park.  Throughout  the  enclosed  grounds,  it  is  absolutely 
necessary  that  visitors  should  be  restricted  to  the  walks ;  for 
otherwise  the  feet  of  our  millions  of  visitors  would  quickly 
destroy  every  ground  plant. 

The  Rocking  Stone,  No.  45,  a  colossal  cube  of  pinkish 
granite,  poised  on  one  of  its  angles  on  a  smooth  pedestal  of 
rock,  is  the  Zoological  Park's  most  interesting  souvenir  of 
the  glacial  epoch.  Across  the  bare  face  of  the  rocky  hill 
in  which  lies  the  Crocodile  Pool,  there  are  several  glacial 
scratches  pointing  directly  toward  the  famous  boulder;  and 
who  will  say  it  had  no  part  in  making  one  of  them? 

The  Rocking  Stone  stands  on  a  smooth  table  of  granite  on 
the  southern  shoulder  of  the  hill  overlooking  the  Buffalo 
Range.  Its  extreme  height  is  7  feet  6  inches;  breadth,  10 
feet  1  inch ;  thickness,  8  feet  1  inch,  and  its  weight,  as  roughly 
calculated,  is  30  tons.  A  pressure  of  about  50  Ibs.  exerted  on 
the  most  northern  angle  of  the  stone  causes  its  apex  to  swing 
north  and  south  about  two  inches. 


SECTION  I.— THE  MAMMALS. 


THE  HOOFED  ANIMALS. 

The  forming  of  a  collection  which  shall  fairly  represent 
the  hoofed  animals  of  the  world  is  necessarily  a  work  of 
years.  It  is  now  (in  1915)  fifteen  years  since  the  Zoological 
Society  entered  upon  this  task,  and  during  that  period  the 
work  of  providing  installations  and  living  specimens  has 
been  pursued  with  unflagging  industry.  In  no  feature  of 
our  development  has  the  Society  been  more  liberal  than  in 
the  purchase  of  specimens  for  this  collection,  and  the  gifts 
to  it  have  been  both  numerous  and  valuable.  In  our  82 
species  and  330  specimens  we  feel  that  the  Order  Ungulata 
is  strongly  represented.  On  April  1,  1913,  the  summary  of 
groups  stood  as  follows : 

SUMMARY  OF  THE   UNGULATES. 

Deer 24  species  164  specimens 

Giraffes 1  2 

Bovines :  Bison,  etc ' 3  38 

Musk  Ox 1  6 

Wild  Sheep,  Goats,  etc 8  41 

Antelopes    22  41 

Hippopotamus    2  4 

Wild  Swine    3  5 

Camels  and  Cameloids 5  10 

Rhinoceros    2  2 

Tapirs    2  3 

Wild  Equines 6  9 

Elephants    3  5 

Total    82       "       330 

The  arrangement  of  this  section  of  the  Guide  Book  begins 
at  the  Buffalo  Entrance  with  the  Bisons,  and  follows  the 
ranges,  corrals  and  buildings  for  Hoofed  Animals,  along 
the  southern  and  western  sides  of  the  Park,  to  the  Axis  Deer 
Range.  The  Elephant  House  is  introduced  as  the  visitor 
leaves  Baird  Court,  going  south. 

The  large,  open  pastures  are  called  "ranges,"  and  the 
smaller  fenced  enclosures  are  known  as  "corrals."  The 
fences  are  chiefly  of  hard  steel  wire,  so  strong  and  elastic 
that  the  animals  cannot  break  through  them. 


POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


AMERICAN  BISON:  BULL. 

Warning.— Visitors  must  never  stand  close  beside  a  wire 
fence  or  gate,  because  its  elasticity  between  posts  might 
enable  a  charging  animal  to  strike  a  person  so  standing  and 
inflict  a  serious  injury,  even  though  the  fence  or  gate  is  not 
in  the  least  affected  by  the  blow. 

THE  BISON  RANGES,  Nos.  51  and  52. 

Stretching  from  the  Boston  Road  to  the  large  Antelope 
House  (No.  50),  and  from  the  Rocking  Stone  to  the  southern 
boundary,  lies  an  open  expanse  of  rolling  meadow  land,  with 
a  total  area  of  about  twenty  acres.  It  is  almost  surrounded 
by  shade-trees.  Its  easterly  edge  is  a  low-lying  strip  of  rich 
meadow,  which  lies  under  the  shelter  of  the  rocky,  tree- 
cpVered  ridge  that  forms  the  natural  retaining  wall  of  the 
higher  plateau  toward  the  west.  This  is  the  Bison  Range. 
It  is  the  first  enclosure  seen  on  the  left  as  the  visitor  enters 
the  Park  from  West  Farms  by  way  of  the  Boston  Road 

On  the  north  side  of  the  main  range,  near  the  Rocking 
Stone,  are  the  four  corrals,  and  the  Bison  House.  The 
latter  is  a  rustic  hillside  barn,  eighty  feet  in  length,  with  a 
semicircular  front,  affording  shelter  and  feed  storage  for 
thirty-four  buffaloes.  The  flat  roof  of  the  Buffalo  House  is 
open  to  the  public  from  the  main  walk,  and  has  been  speci- 
ally designed  as  a  convenient  lookout  over  the  main  range 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


27 


EUROPEAN  BISON:  BULL. 

and  corrals.  There  are  other  corrals,  and  a  shelter  "hed, 
at  the  Buffalo  Entrance. 

The  American  Bison,  or  Buffalo,  (B.  americanus),  is  the 
largest  and  the  best  known  of  all  North  American  hoofed 
animals.  What  was  once  the  universal  herd,  which  occu- 
pied the  whole  pasture  region  of  the  West,  wras  cut  in  twain 
in  1867,  by  the  building  of  the  first  trans-continental  rail- 
way. The  great  "southern  herd,"  of  several  millions  of 
animals,  was  destroyed  by  skin  hunters  during  the  years 
1871,  1872,  1873,  and  1874,  and  the  practical  extinction  of 
the  northern  herd  was  accomplished  between  1880  and 
1884. 

At  present  there  are  but  two  herds  of  wild  bison  in 
existence.  The  largest  band,  now  containing  by  estimate 
about  300  individuals,  inhabits  a  wide  stretch  of  barren 
and  inhospitable  territory  southwest  of  Great  Slave  Lake. 
About  twenty  head  remain  in  the  Yellowstone  Park,  more 
than  nine-tenths  of  the  original  herd  having  been  slaught- 
ered by  poachers  since  1890.  There  are  now  about  2000 
bison  alive  in  captivity,  chiefly  in  large  private  game  pre- 
serves. 

Usually  bison  calves  are  born  in  May,  June,  and  July. 
Full  maturity  is  not  reached  until  the  end  of  the  seventh 
year,  when  the  horns  of  the  male — at  first  a  straight  spike — 
have  attained  their  full  semi-circular  curve.  Like  all  thick- 
haired  animals  of  the  temperate  zone,  the  American  bison 


28  POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 

sheds  its  coat  in  spring,  and  does  not  regain  full  pelage 
until  October  or  November. 

The  bison  breeds  in  confinement  about  as  readily  &s 
domestic  cattle.  In  appearance,  it  is  the  most  imposing  of 
all  bovine  animals,  and  with  two  exceptions  it  is  also  the 
largest.  In  captivity  its  disposition  is  mild,  though  inclined 
to  stubbornness.  Occasionally,  however,  an  old  bull  be- 
comes so  vicious  that  it  is  necessary  to  seclude  him  from 
the  herd,  and  treat  him  as  a  dangerous  animal. 

"With  the  exception  of  a  very  few  individuals,  our  entire 
bison  herd  is  the  gift  of  the  late  William  C.  Whitney, 
and  the  increase  therefrom.  The  total  number  of  head  on 
hand  on  April  1,  1913,  was  forty-two. 

In  1906,  the  New  York  Zoological  Society  presented  to  the 
United  States  Government  a  herd  of  fifteen  bison  to 
serve  as  a  nucleus  for  an  independent  National  herd.  The 
Government  very  promptly  fenced  an  area  of  twelve  square 
miles  of  fine  grazing  grounds  in  the  Wichita  Forest  and 
Game  Reserve,  for  the  proper  reception  of  the  herd.  The 
plan  was  consummated  during  1907.  The  effort  has  proven 
completely  successful,  and  on  April  1,  1913,  the  herd  con- 
tained thirty-seven  bison,  all  in  fine  condition. 

European  Bison. — In  a  corral  adjoining  the  Buffalo  En- 
trance, on  the  Boston  Road,  are  to  be  found  two  specimens 
of  the  rare  and  almost  extinct  European  Bison,  (Bos  bona- 
sus).  This  species  is  the  nearest  living  relative  of  the 
American  bison,  and  the  two  specimens  (male  and  female), 
now  exhibited,  came  quite  unexpectedly  into  the  possession 
of  the  Zoological  Society  in  April,  1904.  They  were  ac- 
quired from  the  small  captive  herd  in  the  forest  of  the 
Prince  of  Pless,  in  Silesia,  south-eastern  Germany,  and  are 
the  first  living  specimens  of  the  species  to  be  exhibited  in 
America.  They  were  presented  to  the  Society  by  Mr.  Nor- 
man James,  of  Baltimore,  Mr.  Charles  Sheldon  and  Dr. 
Leonard  J.  Sanford. 

The  distinguishing  characters  of  this  species  are  shorter 
and  less  abundant  hair  on  the  head,  neck  and  shoulders 
than  our  bison,  a  tail  densely  covered  with  hair  throughout 
its  length,  very  long  legs,  and  a  short  body. 

'  But  for  royal  protection,  this  species  would  long  ere  this 
have  become  extinct.  In  the  year  1857,  about  1,898  head 
were  living,  but  in  1892  the  total  had  decreased  to  491.  It 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  29 

appears,  however,  that  an  increase  can  safely  be  announced. 
An  estimate  recently  published  (1906)  places  the  total 
number  of  wild  and  semi-wild  individuals  at  1,400,  while 
in  the  captive  herds  of  the  Czar  and  the  Prince  of  Pless 
there  are  46  more.  About  700  of  the  survivors  inhabit  the 
forests  of  Bielowitza  and  Swisslotsch,  Lithuania,  west  Rus- 
sia, and  are  strictly  protected  by  the  Czar.  Other  bands 
still  exist  on  the  northern  slope  of  the  Caucasus  Mountains 
around  the  sources  of  the  Laba  and  Bjellaja,  sometimes 
ranging  up  to  an  elevation  of  8,000  feet.  Wherever  found, 
they  live  in  scattered  bands  of  from  three  to  ten  indi- 
viduals. All  the  survivors  of  this  species  are  so  jealously 
guarded  that  very  few  of  the  zoological  gardens  of  Europe 
have  been  able  to  procure  specimens. 

This  animal  is  very  often  miscalled  the  "aurochs,"  and 
from  this  error  much  confusion  has  arisen.  The  true  aur- 
ochs, (Bos  primigenius) ,  was  the  wild  progenitor  of  some 
of  the  existing  breeds  of  domestic  cattle,  but  it  is  now 
extinct. 

MOUNTAIN  SHEEP  HILL,  No.  44. 

The  wild  sheep  and  goats  of  the  world  form  an  exceed- 
ingly interesting  group  of  animals.  In  form  they  are  odd 
and  picturesque,  and  in  temper  and  mentality  they  are 
everything  that  could  be  desired.  All  the  year  round,  deer 
are  either  nervous  or  dangerous,  and  difficult  to  handle. 
Wild  sheep,  goats  and  ibex  appreciate  man's  interest  in 
them,  and  even  when  not  fond  of  attention,  they  act  sen- 
sibly when  it  is  necessary  to  handle  them. 

The  Zoological  Park  collection  of  wild  sheep  and  goats  is 
one  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  the  Park.  Mountain 
Sheep  Hill  is  the  first  high  ridge  west  of  the  Rocking  Stone, 
and  its  northern  end  is  very  near  the  Bear  Dens  and  Reptile 
House.  It  consists  of  a  ridge  of  pink  granite  500  feet  long 
and  25  feet  high,  its  southern  end  fully  exposed,  but  the 
northern  end  well  shaded  by  oaks  and  cedars.  For  grazing 
animals  that  love  to  climb,  and  pose  on  the  sky  line,  the 
slopes  of  bare  rock,  set  in  patches  of  hard,  green  turf,  are 
almost  ideal.  In  the  eastern  face  of  the  ridge,  rock  excava- 
tions have  been  made,  and  five  roomy  caves  have  been  con- 
structed in  such  a  manner  that  they  are  cool  in  summer, 
warm  in  winter,  and  dry  at  all  times.  On  April  1,  1913, 


WHITE-FRONTED    MUSK-OX. 


BTG-HOHX   MOUNTAIN    SHEEP    RAM. 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  31 

the  six  wire  enclosures  on  Mountain  Sheep  Hill  contained 
the  following  species : 

Suleiman  Markhor.  Persian  Wild  Goat. 

Arcal  Mountain  Sheep.      Himalayan  Tahr. 
Mouflon.  Aoudad. 

Because  of  the  curious  (and  unaccountable)  fact  that  they 
do  not  thrive  on  Mountain  Sheep  Hill,  the  Rocky  Mountain 
Goat  and  Chamois  are  exhibited  elsewhere.  The  former  will 
be  found  near  the  Pheasant  Aviary,  next  to  the  Musk-ox. 

Visitors  are  requested  to  make  note  of  the  fact  that  in 
•winter,  the  Arcal  Sheep,  Mouflon,  and  other  delicate  sheep 
are  exhibited  in  the  Small-Deer  House. 

The  White-Fronted  Musk-Ox,  (Oiibos  wardi,  Lydekker), 
is  represented  in  the  Park  by  a  herd  of  six  specimens.  Five 
of  these  animals  were  born  in  May,  1910,  in  Ellesmere  Land, 
and  captured  in  that  year  by  Paul  J.  Rainey  and  Harry  C. 
Whitney,  and  presented  by  Mr.  Rainey.  The  sixth  individu- 
al, a  vigorous  and  rather  vicious  female,  was  born  on  Mel- 
ville Island,  in  May,  1909,  and  captured  by  Captain  Joseph 
Bernier.  Owing  to  the  domineering  temper  of  "Miss  Mel- 
ville," it  is  not  possible  to  keep  her  with  the  animals  a  year 
younger  than  herself,  because  she  resents  their  presence  in 
her  corral. 

The  Musk-Ox  is  an  animal  of  strange  form,  inhabiting 
a  small  portion  of  the  Arctic  regions  of  the  western  hemi- 
sphere, up  to  the  very  northernmost  points  of  land  east  of  the 
Mackenzie  River.  At  Fort  Conger  (Latitude  81°,  40'), 
its  flesh  was  a  godsend  to  General  Greely,  and  later  on  to 
Commander  Peary,  also.  Structurally,  this  animal  stands 
in  a  genus  of  its  own  (Ovibos],  midway  between  the  cattle 
and  the  sheep,  but  it  is  unqualifiedly  a  misnomer  to  call  it 
a  "musk-sheep." 

An  adult  male  Musk-Ox  stands  4  ft.  5  in.  high  at  the 
shoulders  and  is  6  ft.  7  in.  in  total  length.  Our  first  specimen 
was  a  female,  two  years  old.  She  stood  3  ft.  2  in.  high  at 
the  shoulders,  and  was  4  ft.  10  in.  in  total  length.  Her 
entire  body  was  covered  by  a  dense  mass  of  fine  light  brown 
hair,  of  a  woolly  nature,  overlaid  by  a  thatch  of  very  long, 
straight  hair  specially  designed  to  shed  rain. 

The  Musk-Ox  inhabits  the  Barren  Grounds  of  northern 
Canada  north  of  Latitude  64°  from  Great  Bear  Lake  to 
Hudson  Bay,  Grant  Land,  and  the  northeast  coast  of  Green- 
land from  Franz  Josef  Fiord  (Latitude  70°)  to  the  most 


32 


POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


MOUFLON 


ARCAL  SHEEP 


northerly  point  of  land.  About  twenty  living  specimens 
have  been  taken  when  very  young  at  Franz  Josef  Fiord, 
by  Swedish  and  Norwegian  whaling  parties.  The  Peary 
Arctic  Club,  of  New  York,  presented  to  the  New  York 
Zoological  Society  a  young  calf  which  was  captured  by 
Commander  Peary  at  Fort  Conger,  in  1902,  but  it  lived 
only  a  few  months. 

The  Big-Horn  Mountain  Sheep,  (Oz'is  canadcnsis},  is 
exhibited  in  the  Zoological  Park,  whenever  it  may  be  ob- 
tained. The  efforts  that  have  been  made  in  New  York, 
Philadelphia,  Washington  and  Chicago  to  acclimatize  the 
Big-Horn  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  have  proven  the  ex- 
treme difficulty  involved  in  keeping  specimens  of  that 
species  alive  and  in  good  condition  anywhere  in  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley,  or  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  The  changes  of  at- 


HIMALAYAN  TAHR 


BURRHEL 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


33 


CHAMOIS 


MARKHOR 


mosphere  and  temperature  seem  more  violent  than  Ameri- 
can mountain  sheep  are  fitted  by  nature  to  endure,  and 
thus  far  all  specimens  tried  have  died  within  a  compara- 
tively few  months. 

In  his  own  country,  the  Rocky  Mountain  Big-Horn  is  a 
bold,  hardy  and  robust  animal.  He  is  high-headed,  keen- 
sighted,  and  a  sure-footed  mountaineer.  He  dwells  in  the^ 
wildest  and  most  picturesque  country  that  he  can  find  be- 
tween the  "bad-lands"  of  western  North  Dakota  and  the 
line  of  perpetual  snow  on  the  Rockies.  His  massive  cir- 
cling horns  render  his  head  a  much-coveted  trophy,  and  his 
flesh  is  most  excellent  food.  A  full-grown  ram  (Ovis  cana- 
densis)  stands  41  inches  in  height  at  the  shoulders,  and 
weighs  316  pounds. 

This  species  ranges  from  the  northern  states  of  Mexico 
to  northern  British  Columbia  and  it  culminates  (i.  e., 


AOUDAD 


PERSIAN  WILD  GOAT 


34  POPULAR   OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 

reaches  its  finest  development)  in  southeastern  British  Co- 
lumbia. In  Northwest  Alaska  other  related  species  occur. 
A  female  specimen  from  southeastern  British  Columbia  was 
exhibited  in  the  Zoological  Park  during  1905  and  1906,  and 
in  1902,  a  male  specimen  of  a  closely  related  species  (Ovis 
nelsoni)  was  also  here. 

As  opportunities  offer  to  procure  male  specimens,  that 
have  been  kept  in  their  home  region  until  they  are  at  least 
a  year  and  a  half  old,  they  will  be  purchased  and  exhibited. 

The  Mouflon,  (Ovis  musimon),  or  Wild  Sheep  of  Sar- 
dinia, is  represented  by  a  fine  pair  of  specimens  presented 
by  Maurice  Egerton,  Esq.,  of  London,  and  a  young  male 
born  in  the  Park.  The  female  of  the  adult  pair  was  cap- 
tured when  a  lamb  in  the  mountains  of  Sardinia  by  Mr. 
Egerton.  The  ram  of  this  species  is  handsomely  colored, 
and  this  specimen  is  noted  for  his  friendliness,  and  his  fond- 
ness for  admiration. 

The  Arcal  Mountain  Sheep,  (Ovis  cycloceros),  is  one  of 
the  smallest  mountain  sheep  of  India  of  the  "big-horn" 
type  (with  circling  horns).  The  fully  adult  male,  with  its 
long  undermane  of  coarse,  shaggy  hair  and  proud  postures, 
is  a  very  noteworthy  creature.  This  species  inhabits  the 
mountains  of  northern  India,  Tibet,  Afghanistan,  Beluchistan 
and  southern  Persia. 

The  Burrhel,  or  Blue  Mountain  Sheep,  (Ovis  burrhel), 
also  of  northern  India,  is  of  quite  a  different  mould  from 
the  preceding  species.  Its  countenance  has  almost  a  benign 
expression,  and  its  curious  out-pointing  horns,  of  large  size 
give  it  a  most  jaunty  air.  By  some  it  is  regarded  as  the 
most  beautiful  of  all  mountain  sheep.  In  size,  however,  it 
is  not  imposing,  for  it  is  one  of  the  smallest  species.  It  is 
not  so  hardy  as  the  preceding  species,  and  there  may  be 
periods  when  there  are  no  specimens  on  exhibition. 

The  Aoudad,  or  Barbary  Wild  Sheep,  (Ovis  tragelaphus) , 
comes  from  the  hot,  dry  mountains  of  northern  Africa,  and 
it  endures  the  cold,  wet  climate  of  New  York  in  a  manner 
sufficient  to  put  to  shame  our  American  mountain  sheep, 
goat  and  other  western  ruminants.  The  largest  male  Aou- 
dad of  our  herd  is  a  very  fine  specimen  of  its  kind.  He  is 
as  fond  of  admiration  as  any  peacock,  and  often  poses  in 
striking  attitudes  on  the  highest  point  of  his  rocks.  He 
was  born  here  on  March  19,  1902. 

The  Himalayan  Tahr,  (Hemitragus  jemlaicus),  is  really 
a  wild  goat,  of  very  odd  and  picturesque  aspect,  native  of 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  35 

the  higher  ranges  of  the  Himalayas  of  northern  India.  Its 
horns  are  short  and  thick,  and  its  body  is  covered  with 
long,  purplish-brown  hair  which  is  much  blown  about  by 
the  wind.  It  dwells  amongst  the  most  dangerous  crags  and 
precipices,  just  below  timber-line,  and  in  reality  is  a  forest- 
loving  animal.  Its  hair  is  the  longest  to  be  found  on  any 
member  of  the  two  subfamilies  of  goats  and  goat-like  ani- 
mals. The  pair  on  exhibition  have  bred  here,  and  the 
young  have  been  successfully  reared  to  maturity.  The 
young  Tahr  is  very  small,  but  remarkably  nimble-footed 
and  capable. 

The  Chamois,  (Rnpicapra  tragus),  has  usually  been  repre- 
sented in  the  hoofed-animal  collection,  but  always  out  of  its 
proper  installation.  Our  individuals  have  not  thriven  on 
Mountain  Sheep  Hill,  always  becoming  ill  soon  after  being 
placed  there.  They  thrive  well,  however,  in  a  small  wire 
pen  with  a  sanded  floor  quite  near  the  Puma  and  Lynx  House 
(No.  33A),  and  there  we  keep  them. 

This  animal  is  one  of  the  rock  antelopes,  and  is  related 
to  the  American  Mountain  Goat.  It  is  a  bold  moun- 
taineer, and  even  to-day  is  pictorially  represented  as  leap- 
ing "from  crag  to  crag"  across  chasms  apparently  200  feet 
wide !  Its  home  is  in  the  mountains  of  southern  Europe, 
especially  the  Pjrrenees,  the  Swiss  Alps  and  the  Caucasus 
Mountains.  But  it  is  not  so  exclusively  a  crag-dweller,  as 
most  persons  have  been  led  to  suppose,  for  in  many  local- 
ities it  inhabits  mountain  forests.  Like  most  other  moun- 
tain ungulates,  the  Chamois  dwell  high  in  summer,  and  in 
winter  they  seek  lower  and  more  sheltered  situations.  They 
are  exceedingly  wary  and  agile,  and  sure-footed  on  danger- 
ous ground. 

THE  ANTELOPE  HOUSE,  NO.  50. 

The  Antelope  House  occupies  a  commanding  situation  on 
a  high,  tree-covered  knoll  at  the  south  end  of  the  Zoological 
Park.  The  situation  seems  as  if  specially  formed  by  Na- 
ture to  be  occupied  by  this  building,  and  its  outside  en- 
closures. The  drainage  is  quite  perfect,  and  the  yards  are 
well-shaded. 

The  building  has  been  designed  to  meet  the  wants  of 
giraffes  and  large  African  antelopes  of  all  kinds,  more 
especially  those  which  require  60°  of  heat  in  winter. 


36 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL    GUIDE 


NILGAI:    INDIAN  ANTELOPE. 


The  Antelope  House  is  142  feet  long  by  78  feet  in  ex- 
treme width.  In  architectural  style  it  conforms  with  the 
other  large  animal  buildings  of  the  Park.  Both  for  visitors 
and  for  its  animals,  it  is  roomy  and  well  lighted,  and  in 
every  way  fitted  to  house  and  display  a  large  and  valuable 
collection  of  tropical  hoofed  animals.  It  contains  24  in- 
terior compartments,  directly  connected  with  23  open-air 
yards  for  use  in  mild  weather.  This  building  was  com- 
pleted and  occupied  on  October  17,  1903,  and  with  all  its 
surrounding  improvements  has  cost  about  $80,000. 

As  the  visitor  will  observe  from  the  following  enumera- 
tion of  species,  our  collection  of  large  and  rare  African  and 
Asiatic  antelopes  is  very  rich.  Unfortunately,  until  the 
completion  of  the  Zebra  House  releases  the  apartments  now 
occupied  by  the  equines,  a  number  of  species  which  belong 
in  the  Antelope  House  must  temporarily  be  quartered  else- 
where. 

The  Nubian  or  Three-Horned  Giraffes,  (Giraffa  camelo- 
pardalis),  are  at  present  the  most  important  and  interesting 
animals  in  the  building.  The  pair  came  from  German  East 
Africa,  are  now  (April,  1913)  about  twelve  years  old,  and 
cost  $5,500.  The  male  stands  14  feet  4  inches  in  height, 
and  the  female  12  feet  6  inches.  Both  are  good-tempered 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  37 

animals,  and  have  been  in  good  health  ever  since  their 
arrival.  Their  food  consists  of  clover  hay,  broken  forage- 
biscuits,  an  assortment  of  raw  vegetables  carefully  cut  into 
small  pieces,  a  small  quantity  of  bran,  and  rock  salt. 

A  study  of  the  Giraffes  reveals  most  interesting  con- 
ditions. According  to  the  point  of  view,  the  total  number 
of  species  and  subspecies  may  be  reckoned  at  any  number 
from  three  to  six,  inclusive.  According  to  the  specimens  in 
hand,  the  Southern,  or  Two-Horned  Giraffe,  (Giraffa  capen- 
sis),  seems  clearly  defined  from  the  Northern,  or  Three- 
Horned  Giraffe,  (G.  cametopardalis}.  Next,  the  Somali  Gi- 
raffe, (G.  reticidata),  of  the  Lake  Rudolph  region  and  north- 
ern British  East  Africa,  seems  fairly  separable.  At  first 
the  Five-Horned  Giraffe,  of  western  Uganda,  seemed  quite 
distinct,  but  now  British  naturalists  hesitate  about  accord- 
ing to  it  rank  as  a  separate  species,  because  of  its  inter' 
gradation  with  the  Nubian  form,  (camelopardalis). 

Judging  from  all  evidence  now  available,  it  seems  that 
the  Giraffes  of  to-day  represent  the  midway  stage  of  an 
effort  to  develop  several  species  from  the  parent  stock, 
the  Three-Horned  Giraffe,  which  is  the  species  here  rep- 
resented. The  existing  forms,  including  all  species  and  sub- 
species, intergrade  and  run  together  in  a  manner  that  is 
fairly  bewildering;  but  if  the  Giraffes  could  remain  un- 
influenced by  man  for  a  sufficiently  long  period  the  prob- 
abilities are  that  the  species  now  branching  off  would  be 
clearly  established. 

The  oldest,  the  best-known  and  the  most  common  Giraffe 
is  the  three-horned  species,  found  from  central  Uganda 
southward.  The  five-horned  variety  meets  the  former  in 
Uganda,  and  occurs  from  that  region  westward  to  the  edge 
of  the  great  equatorial  forest,  and  on  westward  even  to 
Lake  Tchad,  and  the  lower  Niger  Valley.  Excepting  in 
Uganda,  Kahma's  country,  and  a  few  other  protected  dis- 
tricts, the  Giraffe  is  now  rare,  particularly  throughout  the 
regions  that  are  accessible  to  hunters.  Thousands  of  these 
wonderful  creatures  have  been  killed  by  hunters,  both 
white  and  black,  solely  for  the  sake  of  seeing  them  dead, 
and  leaving  them  as  prey  to  the  hysenas  and  hunting-dogs. 
It  seems  to  be  beyond  the  power  of  most  men  who  can 
shoot  to  see  living  wild  animals,  no  matter  how  large  or 
wonderful,  without  desiring  to  reduce  them  to  carcasses, 
fit  only  for  scavengers. 


38  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


NUBIAN  GIRAFFES. 

The  Eland,  (Taurotragus  oryx),  is  the  largest  and  most 
imposing  of  all  antelopes.  As  might  be  inferred  from  its 
great  size,  it  is  now  so  nearly  extinct  that  it  has  almost  dis- 
appeared from  the  lists  of  dealers  in  wild  animals.  The 
fine  young  pair  now  in  the  Antelope  House  was  presented  by 
the  Duke  of  Bedford,  from  his  famous  animal  collection  at 
Woburn  Park.  The  fully  adult  female  is  the  gift  of  Mr.  C. 
Ledyard  Blair. 

Of  Elands  there  are  two  well-marked  species.  That  of 
eastern  and  southern  Africa,  here  represented,  was  once 
numerous  on  many  of  the  fertile  plains  of  the  great  plateau 
now  known  as  Rhodesia,  and  in  fact  throughout  nearly  the 
whole  of  the  uplands  of  eastern  Africa,  from  the  Cape  to 
the  Sahara.  Unfortunately,  however,  white  hunters  and 
modern  firearms  have  reduced  the  countless  thousands  of 
the  great  herds  to  numbers  so  small  that  the  capture  and 
exportation  of  Elands  have  practically  ceased. 

Although  a  number  of  Elands  have  been  born  in  cap- 
tivity, the  number  on  public  exhibition  still  remain  very 
small.  The  only  captive  herd  known  to  the  writer  is  that 
of  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  in  Woburn  Park,  England,  which 
is  at  once  the  admiration  and  envy  of  all  collectors  of  living 
wild  animals. 

The  White-Tailed  Gnu,  (Connochaetes  gnti),  once  was 
abundant  in  South  Africa,  south  of  the  Vaal  River.  But  it 
has  shared  the  fate  of  all  the  other  large  mammals  of  that 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  39 

region,  and  only  a  few  scattered  bands  still  exist.  Nearly 
all  of  the  specimens  now  living  in  captivity  were  born  in 
captivity,  for  both  species  of  Gnu  take  kindly  to  life  in 
parks  and  gardens. 

Every  way  considered,  the  Gnu  is  an  animal  of  odd  and 
remarkable  form.  It  has  a  nose  of  strange  shape,  its 
horns  are  curiously  formed,  the  hair  on  its  head  and  neck 
exhibits  various  peculiarities,  and  its  hips  are  oddly  mod- 
eled. Its  long,  flowing  tail  is  so  horse-like  that  for  many 
years  this  animal  was  pictured  and  popularly  known  as  the 
"Horned  Horse." 

The  White-Bearded  Gnu,  (Connochaetes  albojubatus),  is 
noticeably  larger  than  the  white-tailed  species,  and  in  some 
respects  it  presents  a  finer  appearance.  Its  bulk  is  con- 
siderably greater,  and  its  color  is  more  pleasing.  This  spe- 
cies bears  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  third  species,  which 
is  known  as  the  Brindled  or  Blue  Gnu,  (Connochaetes  tau- 
rinus),  from  which  the  former  is  distinguished  by  its  white 
mane  and  jaw-tufts,  and  generally  paler  color.  At  wide 
intervals  the  White-Bearded  species  inhabits  southern  East 
Africa,  from  about  S.  Lat.  23°,  to  the  Albert  Nyanza  and 
Lake  Rudolph,  but  chiefly  near  the  coast.  In  only  one 
locality  do  we  learn  of  its  occurrence  west  of  the  30th  me- 
ridian. To-day  it  is  most  numerous  in  German  East  Africa 
and  the  southern  portions  of  Uganda. 

The  Addax  Antelope,  (Addax  naso-maculatus) ,  is  a  spiral- 
horned  antelope  which  inhabits  the  southern  edge  of  the 
Sahara  Desert  from  Dongola  quite  across  Africa  to  Senegal. 
Its  extremely  broad  and  spreading  hoofs  betoken  a  dweller 
upon  sand,  and  are  strongly  suggestive  of  the  snow-shoe 
hoofs  of  the  caribou.  It  is  said  that  this  animal  is  not  to 
be  taken  without  making  a  journey  into  the  desert,  with 
camels. 

The  Leucoryx  Antelope,  (Oryx  leucoryx},  is  the  only 
member  of  its  genus  which  has  curved  horns.  Because  of  the 
length  and  very  slight  curvature  of  the  horns,  this  species 
has  by  some  writers  been  spoken  of  as  the  Sabre  Antelope, 
and  by  a  mischievous  perversion  that  name  has  been  turned 
into  "Sable"  Antelope,  which  refers  to  a  totally  different 
creature,  (Hippotragus  niger}.  Anyone  who  places  an  order 
for  the  purchase  of  a  real  Sable  Antelope,  and  receives  a 
Leucoryx  instead  of  Hippotragus  niger,  is  profoundly  dis- 
appointed. 

This  species  is  a  desert  habitant,  and  its  home  is  the  desert 
region  of  North  Africa  from  Dongola  to  the  Senegal  coun- 


40  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


BEATRIX  ANTELOPE  BLESSBOK 

try.  It  is  breeding  regularly  here,  and  the  offspring  mature 
successfully.  The  largest  Leucoryx  horns  on  record  meas- 
ure 39^  inches. 

The  Beisa  Antelope,  (Oryx  beisa),  is  a  good  representative 
of  the  group  of  straight-horned  antelopes  found  in  the  genus 
Oryx.  Of  all  the  long-horned  species,  the  two  Beisas  and 
the  Gemsbok  of  Africa,  and  the  Beatrix  of  Arabia,  are  the 
only  species  possessed  of  horns  that  are  practically  straight 
from  base  to  tip.  The  Gemsbok  is  the  largest  and  most 
showy  species,  being  painted  like  a  harlequin,  in  a  startling 
pattern  of  roan,  black  and  white.  The  Beisa  is  a  good 
second,  however.  The  horns  of  all  these  antelopes  grow 
to  great  length,  and  are  excellent  weapons  for  use  in 
encounters  with  the  smaller  game-killing  carnivores.  The 
largest  horns  of  record  measure  40  inches. 

The  Beisa  inhabits  eastern  Central  Africa,  from  Suakin 
on  the  Red  Sea  southward  to  the  Equator. 

The  Beatrix  Antelope,  (Oryx  beatrix],  of  the  Arabian 
Desert,  is  one  of  the  rarest  antelopes  to  be  found  in  cap- 
tivity, and  at  this  date  this  interesting  species  is  represented 
by  a  fine  pair  of  specimens.  The  longest  horns  of  record 
measure  26  inches.  Very  few  sportsmen  have  seen  this 
animal  in  its  native  haunts.  Our  pair  has  been  breeding 
for  three  years,  and  has  reared  two  young. 

The  Sable  Antelope,  (Hippotragns  niger),  is  by  many 
persons  regarded  as  the  handsomest  of  all  the  numerous 
species  of  African  antelopes.  In  appearance  it  is  very  proud 
and  high-headed ;  it  has  imposing  horns  that  sweep  backward 
in  a  semicircular  carve;  its  large  eyes  and  alert  air  betoken 
keen  intelligence,  and  its  glossy  black  coat,  marked  with  pure 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


41 


LEUCORYX    ANTELOPE 


WHITE-TAILED  GNU 


white,  render  it  a  most  conspicuous  animal.  On  its  native 
veldt  it  has  now  become  a  very  rare  species,  and  seldom  is 
taken  by  sportsmen.  The  fine  male  specimen  in  the  Park  was 
presented  by  Miss  Jean  Walker  Simpson. 

The  Sing-Sing  Waterbuck,  (Cobus  unctuosus],  is  a  crea- 
ture of  the  lowlands,  and  frequents  the  dense  tangles  of  tall 
reeds  that  border  many  of  the  rivers  of  West  Africa,  above 
the  great  equatorial  forest.  In  captivity  it  sometimes  is 
one  of  the  most  insanely  nervous  and  irrational  creatures 
imaginable,  ever  seeking  self-inflicted  injuries. 

The  Blessbok,  (Damaliscus  albifrons),  is  a  small  but  hand- 
some purple-and-white  antelope  which  is  now  very  nearly 
extinct.  Formerly  a  number  of  herds  were  preserved  on 
fenced  farms  in  the  Transvaal  and  Orange  Free  State,  but 
it  is  feared  that  none  of  them  survived  the  Boer  War.  This 
species  never  lived  north  of  the  Limpopo,  but  south  of  that 
river  it  once  was  so  numerous  that  a  truthful  traveler 
described  a  vast  plain  as  being  "purple  with  Blessbok." 

The  Nilgai,  (Portax  tragocamelus),  is  the  largest  of  the 
Indian  antelopes,  and  while  it  has  the  stature  and  the  high 
shoulders  of  a  Baker  roan  antelope,  its  absurdly  small 
horns  give  it,  beside  the  large  antelopes  of  Africa,  a  very 
commonplace  and  unfinished  appearance.  The  males  and 
females  are  as  differently  colored  as  if  they  belonged  to 
different  species.  This  animal  inhabits  the  roughest 
portions  of  the  central  plains  of  Hindustan,  from  Mysore  to 
the  Himalayas.  In  northern  India  it  is  found  along  the 
rivers  Jumna  and  Ganges,  in  rugged  and  barren  tracts  of 
ravines  which  in  character  and  origin  resemble  our  western 
4  'bad-lands." 


42 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


ELAND 


The   small   antelopes   will   be    found   in   the   Small-Deer 
House,  the  next  building  in  order. 


THE  SMALL-DEER  HOUSE,  No.  49. 

In  captivity  the  small  and  delicate  species  of  deer,  an- 
telopes and  gazelles  are  better  cared  for  in  enclosures  that 
are  not  too  large.  For  such  creatures,  freedom  in  a  large 
enclosure  usually  means  early  death  from  accident  or  ex- 
posure. 

The  very  important  building  called  the  Small-Deer  House 
has  been  erected  with  special  reference  to  the  wants  of  the 
interesting  little  hoofed  animals  which  are  too  small  for  the 
Antelope  House  and  the  large  ranges.  In  winter  it  will 
shelter  the  small  tropical  mountain  sheep  and  goats,  which 
are  unable  to  withstand  the  rigors  of  outdoor  life  on  Moun- 
tain Sheep  Hill,  and  the  tropical  swine  may  also  be  expected 
here. 

The  Small-Deer  House  is  situated  in  close  proximity  to 
the  Antelope  House,  and  westward  thereof.  Of  the  build- 
ings of  secondary  rank,  it  is  one  of  the  most  satisfactory, 
being  roomy,  well-lighted  and  capable  of  comfortably  hous- 
ing and  displaying  a  large  and  varied  collection.  The  struc- 
ture is  158  feet  in  length  by  46  feet  in  width.  It  contains 
thirty  compartments,  each  of  which,  under  stress  of  ne- 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


SABLE  ANTELOPE. 

cessity,  can  be  partitioned,  and  formed  into  two.  The  in- 
terior compartments  are  each  10  feet  wide  by  10  feet  deep. 
The  building  is  surrounded  by  a  series  of  34  corrals,  con- 
necting with  the  interior  compartments,  the  average  size  of 
each  being  75  feet  long  by  20  feet  wide  at  the  outer  end. 
All  the  fences  are  of  wire,  and  were  specially  designed  in 
the  Park  for  this  installation. 

It  is  a  practical  impossibility  to  offer  an  enumeration  of 
the  living  animals  in  this  building  which  will  permanently 
apply,  and  the  best  that  can  be  attempted  is  an  approxima- 
tion. It  is  an  inexorable  law  of  Nature  that  the  smallest 
animals  shall  have  the  shortest  periods  of  life,  and  in  a 
zoological  park  a  small  hoofed  animal  may  be  here  to-day 
and  gone  to-morrow.  In  the  following  enumeration,  men- 
tion will  be  made  only  of  those  species  which  are  likely  to 
remain  longest  on  exhibition;  and  it  may  be  observed  that 
in  this  building  there  will  be  found  various  animals  which 
are  neither  deer  nor  antelopes. 

THE   SMALL  DEER. 

Osceola  White-Tailed  Deer,  (Odocoileus  virginianus  os- 
ceola),  is  an  interesting  geographic  race  of  the  northern 
White-Tailed  Deer  which  forms  the  parent  stem  of  a  group 
of  six  or  seven  subspecies.  The  robust  and  hardy  northern 
type,  often  with  large  and  strong  antlers,  gradually  dimin- 


44 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


REDUNCA    ANTELOPE. 

ishes  in  size  and  in  antlers,  until  in  Mexico  it  becomes  a 
small  and  delicate  creature,  with  very  small  and  light  antlers 
bearing  only  two  or  three  small  tines.  The  next  form  has  so 
widely  diverged  from  the  original  type  that  it  is  necessary 
to  accord  it  rank  as  a  full  species. 

The  Sinaloa  White-Tailed  Deer,  (Odocoileus  sinaloae),  is 
still  smaller  and  weaker  than  the  preceding.  Our  pair  of 
specimens  shown  was  obtained  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  William 
Beebe,  in  the  State  of  Guadalajara,  Mexico,  and  are  highly 
interesting  as  a  link  near  the  lower  terminus  of  the  Odocoi- 
leus chain.  On  a  majority  of  the  antlers  of  this  species 
there  are  no  branches  whatever,  but  simply  a  weak  main 
beam,  curving  over  at  the  tip,  and  terminating  in  a  rounded 
point. 

It  should  be  noted  here  that  the  White-Tailed  Deer  group, 
(Odocoileus),  is  very  well  represented  in  South  America  by 
O.  weigmanni  of  the  Guianas. 

The  Marsh  Deer,  (Blaistoceros  paludosus),  of  eastern 
South  America,  is  the  largest  South  American  deer.  Our 
first  specimen  was  obtained  in  1904.  Its  antlers  are  strong- 
ly built  but  short,  and  in  architecture  resemble  the  antlers 
of  a  Siamese  species  known  as  Schomburgk  Deer,  (Ccrz'us 
schomburgki)  •  but  the  latter  has  on  each  beam  three  double 
bifurcations,  while  the  former  has  but  two.  The  Marsh 
Deer  has  very  large,  wide-spreading  hoofs,  which  it  would 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  45 

seem  have  been  developed  by  many  generations  of  existence 
on  soft  ground.  It  inhabits  the  jungles  along  river  banks, 
in  Brazil.  The  head  of  this  animal  is  of  remarkable  length. 

This  important  species  is  rather  weak  in  captivity,  and  it 
is  by  no  means  certain  that  it  can  constantly  be  exhibited 
here.  There  is  another  South  American  species,  (Blastoceros 
campestris),  which  is  a  zoological  understudy,  or  miniature, 
of  the  large  Marsh  Deer. 

The  Black-Faced  Brocket,  (Mazaina  tema),  whenever  it 
can  be  obtained,  will  represent  a  group  of  American  deer 
which  is  as  little  known  in  the  United  States  as  if  it  in- 
habited the  heart  of  Borneo.  The  Brockets  are  smaller 
than  the  Sinaloa  white-tailed  deer,  and  they  are  so  nearly 
hornless  that  the  antler  is  merely  a  small,  straight,  sharp- 
pointed  spike  of  bone  only  three  inches  long.  The  adult 
animal  is  only  25  inches  in  shoulder  height,  which  is  about 
the  size  of  the  muntjac  of  India.  Of  the  Brockets  there  are 
several  species,  mostly  South  American,  but  from  skulls  and 
horns  received  we  now  know  that  it  is  found  as  far  north 
as  the  State  of  Puebla,  Mexico.  A  correspondent  in  that 
locality  is  constantly  endeavoring  to  secure  specimens  for 
us,  and  no  doubt  will  shortly  succeed.  For  the  reason  that 
we  expect  specimens  in  the  near  future,  this  species  is  in- 
cluded. 

The  Hog  Deer,  (Cervus  porcinus),  which  is  verv  unlike  a 
hog,  and  is  libeled  by  its  name,  is  a  small  species  from  India, 
which  is  provided  with  long  and  well-shaped  antlers  having 
a  total  of  six  points.  Sometimes  the  adult  males  are  spot- 
ted in  summer,  and  sometimes  they  are  not.  This  species 
stands  next  to  the  beautiful  axis  deer.  It  breeds  well  in 
captivity,  but  is  a  very  nervous  and  even  hysterical  animal. 

The  Molucca  Deer,  (Cervus  moluccensis),  is  a  thick- 
bodied,  scantily-clad  and  coarse-haired  understudy  of  the 
Malay  sambar,  (Cervus  unicolor}.  Of  all  deer  it  is  one  of 
the  least  beautiful.  Its  hair  resembles  the  bristles  of  a  wild 
hog,  and  its  color  is  a  dull,  raw-umber  brown.  It  belongs 
to  the  sambar  group  of  East  Indian  deer,  and  really  marks, 
both  geographically  and  in  size,  the  farthest  departure 
from  the  type  species  of  the  group. 

The  Muntjac  or  Rib-Faced  Deer,  (Cervus  muntjac},  is  one 
of  the  most  interesting  of  all  species  of  small  deer.  In  one 
respect  it  is  unique.  Its  tiny  antlers,  which  are  only  \y2 
inches  in  length,  are  placed  high  up  on  stems  of  solid  bone, 
which  sometimes  rise  34  inches  clear  of  the  cranium. 


46  POPULAR    OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


SASIN  ANTELOPE. 

These  pedicles  of  bone  are  covered  with  skin,  quite  up  to 
the  burr  of  the  antler.  The  front  angles  of  these  pedicles  are 
continued  down  the  face  to  the  nasal  bones,  and  form  the 
two  sharply  defined  facial  ridges  which  have  given  this 
creature  one  of  its  popular  names. 

In  India  the  Muntjac  inhabits  the  jungles  of  the  tiger, 
the  leopard,  axis  deer  and  sloth  bear,  and  escapes  from  its 
numerous  enemies  by  hiding  behind  logs,  and  scurrying 
through  the  thick  underbush  so  swiftly  that  its  pursuers  can 
not  keep  it  in  view.  Its  flesh  is  most  excellent  food.  From 
its  peculiar,  yapping  cry,  many  times  repeated,  it  is  often 
called  the  Barking  Deer.  It  breeds  readily  in  captivity,  and 
its  bright  fawn  color  attracts  to  it  much  attention. 

The  Musk  Deer,  (Moschus  moschiferns},  of  northern  In- 
dia, Tibet  and  Southern  China  is  the  creature  which  pro- 
duces the  well-known  musk  perfume  of  commerce.  The 
product  is  secreted  by  the  male  in  the  "rutting"  season. 
This  species  is  one  of  the  smallest  of  the  true  deer.  Its 
most  remarkable  anatomical  feature  is  a  pair  of  very  long 
and  sharp  canine  teeth  in  the  upper  jaw,  the  points  of  which 
project  far  below  the  lower  jaw.  No  horns  are  present  in 
this  animal.  Being  short-lived  in  captivity,  and  also  diffi- 
cult to  obtain,  it  must  be  classed  as  an  intermittent  exhibit. 

THE  SMALL  AFRICAN  ANTELOPES. 
In  addition  to  the  grand  array  of  large  antelopes  inhabit- 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  47 

ing  Africa,  of  which  many  fine  examples  will  be  found  in 
the  Antelope  House,  there  is  an  extensive  series  of  small 
species.  Indeed,  the  richness  of  Africa  in  antelopes,  great 
and  small,  is  almost  beyond  belief.  The  species  of  Asia  and 
Europe  are  so  few,  and  so  inconspicuous,  that  they  seem  like 
so  many  stray  wanderers  from  the  Dark  Continent.  The 
fertile,  grassy  plains  of  the  great  Central  African  plateau 
have  cradled  scores  of  species,  some  of  which  have  wandered 
into  the  deserts,  the  forests  and  the  fluviatile  swamps,  and 
there  made  their  permanent  homes. 

The  Black-Buck,  or  Sasin  Antelope,  (Antilope  cervicapra), 
of  the  central  plains  of  Hindustan,  is  one  of  the  handsomest 
of  the  smaller  antelopes.  The  horns  of  the  male  are  long, 
strongly  ringed,  twisted  spirally,  and  rise  from  the  head  in 
the  shape  of  a  V,  sometimes  to  a  length  of  28  inches.  At 
first  the  young  males  are  fawn-colored,  like  the  females,  but 
as  they  grow  older  they  steadily  grow  darker,  until  finally 
the  whole  upper  body  and  lower  neck  are  suffused  with  a 
rich,  brown-black  color.  On  the  plains  between  the  rivers 
Ganges  and  Jumna,  herds  of  Black-Buck  live  in  densely  pop- 
ulated agricultural  regions,  and  one  of  the  greatest  difficul- 
ties attendant  upon  its  pursuit  lies  in  shooting  an  animal 
without  also  shooting  the  native. 

The  Reedbuck,  (Cervicapra  arundinum},  of  South  Africa, 
below  Angola  and  Mozambique,  is  closely  related  to  the 
larger  and  much  more  showy  waterbucks,  but  is  distin- 
guished from  them  by  the  pronounced  forward  curve  of  its 
horns.  In  the  western  districts  of  Cape  Colony,  the  number 
alive,  in  1905,  was  estimated  at  350  individuals. 

The  Common  Duiker  Antelope,  (Cephalophus  grimmi),  or 
for  that  matter,  any  species  of  Duiker — may  be  regarded 
as  the  representative  of  a  large  group  of  very  small  African 
antelopes,  of  wide  distribution.  There  are  about  twenty 
species  in  all,  and  the  great  majority  of  them  are  very 
modestly  colored,  in  coats  of  one  or  two  colors  only.  The 
prevailing  tints  are  grayish  brown  and  tawny  red.  The 
horns  of  the  various  species  of  Duikers  are  all  very  much 
alike.  With  but  one  or  two  exceptions,  their  horns  are 
straight  spikes  from  3  to  5  inches  in  length.  In  shoulder 
height  the  Duikers  vary  from  14  to  30  inches,  but  the  major- 
ity are  between  17  and  22  inches.  Only  three  or  four  species 
are  strikingly  colored. 

The  Four-Horned  Antelope,  (Tetraceros  quadricornis}  is 
a  small  creature  which  looks  like  a  duiker,  but  is  very  far 


POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUiUb. 


GREAT    GRA1     KANGAROO. 

from  belonging  to  that  genus.  It  is  an  inhabitant  of  the 
brushy  plains  of  India,  and  enjoys  the  unique  distinction  of 
possessing  two  pairs  of  horns.  In  addition  to  the  4-inch 
pair,  normally  placed,  it  has  a  much  smaller  pair,  usually 
only  1  inch  in  height,  which  rises  from  the  central  area  of 
the  forehead.  I  believe  it  is  the  only  species  of  antelope 
which  possesses  two  pairs  of  horns. 

The  Springbuck,  (Antidorcas  eitchore),  is  to  South  Africa 
as  the  "prong-horn"  is  to  our  great  western  plains.  Once, 
both  were  abundant,  and  the  first  hoofed  animal  to  greet  the 
traveler  who  entered  their  respective  domains.  To-day, 
both  species  are  so  nearly  extinct  that  the  hunter  must 
search  long  before  finding  even  one.  The  Springbuck  re- 
ceived its  name  in  recognition  of  its  remarkable  habit  of 
leaping  high  into  the  air  when  running — a  habit  which  also 
is  displayed  by  the  black-buck  of  India. 

The  Gazelles  are  found  only  in  Asia  and  Africa,  and  the 
number  of  species  is  about  25.  In  general  terms  they  may 
be  described  as  dainty  antelopes, — so  slender  and  delicate  in 
leg  construction  that  it  seems  strange  that  such  slender 
bones  can  support  a  tall  animal  without  breaking. 

The  Dorcas  Gazelle,  of  Arabia,  (Gasella  dorcas},  is  the 
species  which  most  frequently  finds  its  way  into  captivity, 
and  it  will  serve  very  well  as  a  specimen  species  for  the 
whole  group.  Despite  its  delicate  and  frail  appearance,  it 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


49 


ROCKY    MOUNTAIN    GOAT. 

is  much  more  enduring  in  captivity  than  many  animals 
which  seem  far  more  robust.  A  pair  which  entered  the  Park 
in  1900  is  still  living.  The  male  has  a  temper  which  quite 
belies  the  reputation  of  the  "gentle  gazelle."  Although 
loyal  and  kind  to  his  cage-mate,  toward  human  beings  gen- 
erally he  has  manifested  a  very  savage  disposition,  and  in 
one  of  his  fits  of  bad  temper  he  broke  off  one  of  his  own 
horns. 

The  Indian  Gazelle,  (Gazella  benncti), — frequently  called 
in  its  home  country  Ravine  "Deer," — is  a  habitant  of  the 
sterile,  water-washed  ravines  of  northern  and  central  India, 
which  are  the  oriental  counterpart  of  our  western  "bad- 
lands. ' '  This  animal  inhabits  the  same  regions  as  the  black- 
buck,  but  because  of  the  religious  scruples  of  the  Hindoos 
against  the  taking  of  life,  both  species  are  secure  from  at- 
tack— until  the  arrival  among  them  of  the  white  sahibs.  A 
full-grown  Indian  Gazelle  is  26  inches  in  shoulder  height. 
The  females  of  this  species  possess  horns,  which  are  very 
slender,  and  vary  in  length  from  4  to  Sy2  inches. 

MISCELLANEOUS  MAMMALS. 

The  Small-Deer  House  will  at  all  times  contain  various 
mammals  which  are  there  shown  because  it  is  a  practical 
impossibility  to  provide  a  separate  building  for  each  group. 


50  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

The  Wild  Swine  of  the  world  are  here  represented  by  three 
noteworthy  species : 

The  Red  River-Hog,  (Potamochaerus  pencillatus) ,  of  West 
Africa,  is  about  the  only  handsome  species  of  swine  that 
Nature  has  produced.  In  form  it  is  compact  and  well-turned, 
its  long  pencil-tipped  ears  are  of  pleasing  pattern,  and  its 
hair  is  a  rich  auburn  color,  and  the  temper  of  our  specimen 
is  everything  that  could  be  desired.  Beside  it  is  shown 
"Clarence,"  the  East  African  Wart-Hog,  (Phacochaerus 
aethiopicus] ,  who  is  equally  interesting,  but  in  a  different 
way.  This  species  is  very  weird  in  form.  The  Collared 
Peccary,  (Tagassu  angulatum},  beside  it  is  more  like  the  wild 
swine  of  Europe  and  Japan,  and  is  not  nearly  so  dangerous 
as  general  reputation  demands. 

The  Kangaroos. — Seldom  is  there  found  in  Nature  a  group 
of  large-animal  species  whose  members  are  so  monotonously 
similar  in  general  appearance  as  are  the  Kangaroos  and 
Wallabies,  of  Australia.  The  great  majority  are  either  gray 
or  gray-brown,  and  the  only  striking  variation  is  found  in 
the  big  Red  Kangaroo,  (Macropus  rufus}. 

THE  WHITE  MOUNTAIN  GOAT,  No.  48. 

Fortunate  indeed  is  the  zoological  park  or  garden  which 
can  exhibit  even  one  living  specimen  of  the  White  Moun- 
tain Goat.  It  is  a  very  difficult  matter  to  take  an  animal 
from  a  rarified  dry  atmosphere,  at  an  elevation  of  8,000 
feet,  and  induce  it  to  live  at  sea  level,  in  a  dense  and  humid 
atmosphere,  on  food  to  which  it  is  by  nature  wholly  un- 
accustomed. 

We  have  been  successful  in  establishing  here,  on  a  breed- 
ing basis  this  rare  and  difficult  animal,  (Oreamnos  mon- 
tanus}.  One  kid  was  born  in  1908  and  another  in  1910,  and 
both  have  thriven,  the  former  now  being  so  large  as  to  look 
like  an  adult  specimen. 

For  some  subtle  reason  which  we  can  not  explain,  these 
animals — like  the  chamois  and  mouflon  quartered  in  small 
pens  near  the  Small-Mammal  House — do  not  thrive  in  any 
of  the  large,  rock-bound  corrals  of  Mountain  Sheep  Hill. 
They  are  kept  in  a  rock-paved  corral  near  the  Pheasant 
Aviary  and  the  Crotona  Entrance,  and  to  their  use  has  been 
devoted  a  rustic  barn,  which  they  shelter  in  or  climb  over, 
according  to  the  weather.  To  see  them  walking  nonchalant- 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL   PARK. 


51 


iy  over  the  steep  roof,  or  perching  upon  its  peak,  is  one  of 
the  drollest  sights  of  the  Park. 

The  White  Goat,  sometimes  mistakenly  called  "goat  an- 
telope, ' '  belongs  to  a  small  group  known  as  the  Eupicaprines 
or  rock  antelopes.  It  inhabits  many  different  kinds  of  ter- 
ritory, but  usually  the  rugged  sides  and  summits  of  high 
mountains,  at  irregular  intervals  from  southwestern  Mon- 
tana and  northern  Washington,  northward  to  the  head  of 
Cook  Inlet  on  the  coast  of  Alaska.  (See  map  of  distribution, 
with  label.)  The  valley  of  the  upper  Yukon  contains  prac- 
tically no  goats.  They  are  most  abundant  in  southeastern 
British  Columbia,  where  in  a  very  small  area,  in  September, 
1905,  Mr.  John  M.  Phillips  and  the  writer  actually  counted 
239  individuals. 

Of  the  five  animals  now  exhibited  in  the  Park,  three  were 
captured  a  few  days  after  their  birth,  in  May,  1905,  about 
seventy  miles  north  of  Fort  Steele,  British  Columbia.  They 
arrived  here  October  9,  1905,  and  up  to  this  date  they  have 
thriven  as  well,  and  grown  as  rapidly,  as  they  would  have 
in  a  state  of  nature.  Their  food  consists  of  the  best  clover 
hay  obtainable,  and  crushed  oats.  When  they  shed  their 
coats,  in  the  spring,  they  are  almost  as  white  as  snow,  but 
with  months  of  use,  their  pelage  becomes  soiled  and  slightly 
discolored. 

A  fully  adult  male  mountain  goat  stands  from  39  to  41 
inches  in  shoulder  height,  and  weighs,  on  scales,  from  258  to 
300  pounds. 

THE  PRONG-HORNED  ANTELOPE. 

The  Prong-Horned  Antelope,  (Antilocapra  americana),  is 
an  animal  in  which  Americans  should  now  take  special  in- 
terest. Structurally,  the  Prong-Horn  is  so  peculiar  that  it  has 
been  found  necessary  to  create  for  it  a  special  zoological 
family,  called  Antilocapridae,  of  which  it  is  the  sole  mem- 
ber. This  is  due  to  the  following  facts:  (1)  This  is 
the  only  living  mammal  possessing  hollow  horns  (grow- 
ing over  a  bony  core)  which  sheds  them  annually;  (2)  it 
is  the  only  animal  possessing  a  hollow  horn  which  bears  a 
prong,  or  bifurcation;  (3)  it  has  no  "dew  claws,"  as 
other  ruminant  animals  have ;  (4)  the  horn  is  placed 
directly  above  the  eye;  (5)  the  long  hair  of  the  body 
and  neck  is  tubular;  and  (6)  that  on  the  rump  is  erectile. 
Beyond  all  possibility  of  doubt,  it  will  be  our  next  large 


52 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


AMERICAN    PRC 


HORNED   ANTELOPE. 


species  to  become  extinct,  and  if  we  may  judge  by  the 
rate  at  which  the  bands  have  been  disappearing  during  the 
last  fifteen  years,  ten  years  more  will,  in  all  probability,  wit- 
ness the  extermination  of  the  last  individuals  now  struggling 
to  exist  outside  of  rigidly  protected  areas.  It  was  the  inten- 
tion of  the  Society  to  make  liberal  provision  for  the  study  of 
the  species  while  it  is  yet  possible  to  obtain  living  specimens, 
for  fifty  years  hence  our  graceful  and  zoologically  interest- 
ing Prong-Horn  will  be  as  extinct  as  the  dodo.  Unfortu- 
nately, however,  it  fares  so  badly  on  the  Atlantic  coast, 
there  will,  no  doubt,  be  periods  wherein  this  species  will  be 
temporarily  absent  from  the  Park. 

Forty  years  ago  this  animal  inhabited  practically  the 
whole  of  the  great  pasture  region  which  stretches  eastward 
from  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  western  borders  of  Iowa 
and  Missouri.  Northward  its  range  extended  far  into  Mani- 
toba; southward  it  went  far  beyond  the  Rio  Grande,  and  it 
also  ranged  southwestward  through  Colorado  and  Nevada 
to  southern  California.  Its  chosen  home  was  the  treeless 
plains,  where  the  rich  buffalo  grass  and  bunch  grass 
afforded  abundant  food,  but  it  also  frequented  the  beau- 
tiful mountain  parks  of  Wyoming  and  Colorado.  It  even 
lived  contentedly  in  the  deserts  of  the  southwest,  where  its 
voluntary  presence,  coupled  with  the  absence  of  water,  con- 
stituted a  problem  which  has  puzzled  the  brain  of  many 
a  desert  traveller. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


BACTRIAN  CAMEL. 

To-day,  all  observers  agree  that  in  all  regions  wherein  the 
antelope  are  not  rigidly  protected,  they  are  going  fast. 
Those  in  the  Yellowstone  Park  are  protected  against  man 
only  to  be  devoured  by  the  wolves  which  infest  the  Park. 

Unfortunately,  the  Prong-Horned  Antelope  is  not  a  hardy 
animal.  The  kids  are  very  difficult  to  rear;  they  are  at  all 
times  easily  hurt  by  accident,  and  even  in  a  state  of  nature 
this  species  suffers  more  severely  in  winter  than  any  other 
North  American  ruminant.  Often  the  herds  drift  helplessly 
before  the  blizzards,  with  numerous  deaths  from  freezing 
and  starvation,  and  in  spring  the  survivors  come  out  thin 
and  weak. 


THE  CAMEL  HOUSE,  No.  39. 

Speaking  in  a  collective  sense,  the  Camel  is  much  more 
than  an  ordinary  animal  unit  in  a  zoological  park.  On  the 
high  plains  of  central  and  southwestern  Asia,  and  through- 
out the  arid  regions  of  Africa,  it  is  an  institution.  Without 
it,  many  portions  of  the  Old  World  would  be  uninhabitable 
by  man.  Take  either  Dromedary  or  Bactrian  Camel,  and  it 
is  a  sad-eyed,  ungainly,  slow-moving  creature,  full  of  plaints 
and  objections;  but  remember  that  it  goes  so  far  back  to- 
ward the  foundations  of  man's  dynasty,  that  beside  it  the 
oldest  American  history  seems  but  a  record  of  yesterday. 


54 


POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


It  is  only  a  species  of  the  utmost  tenacity  which  could  for 
fifty  centuries  or  more  withstand  constant  use  and  abuse 
by  man  without  being  altered  out  of  all  resemblance  to  its 
original  form.  All  races  of  mankind  and  all  breeds  of 
domestic  animals  save  one,  change  and  continue  to  change, 
indefinitely,  but  the  Camels  apparently  go  on  the  same, 
forever. 

The  Bactrian  Camel,  (Camelus  bactrianus),  he  of  the  long 
shaggy  hair — u'hen  not  shedding — and  the  two  great  humps, 
is  the  beast  of  heavy  burden,  the  four-footed  freight-car  of 
the  desert  sands.  He  can  carry  550  pounds  of  freight,  for 
three  or  four  days  between  drinks;  but  a  swift  pace  is  not 
for  him.  It  is  an  animal  of  this  remarkable  species,  from 
distant  Turkestan,  southwestern  Asia,  which  daily  in  fine 
weather  offers  its  services  as  a  riding  animal,  at  the  stand 
near  the  Large  Bird-House. 

It  is  unfortunate  that  the  Bactrian  Camel  is  in  its  finest 
pelage  only  in  winter,  when  visitors  to  the  Park  are  few, 
and  camel-riding  is  out  of  the  question.  Promptly  upon  the 
approach  of  warm  weather  and  a  million  visitors,  it  sheds 
its  long,  shaggy  brown  coat,  and  stands  forth  as  if  shorn  by 
a  shearer.  Of  this  species,  the  Zoological  Society  possesses 
two  fine  specimens  (the  gift  of  Captain  John  S.  Barnes),  one 
of  which  will  at  all  times  be  found  regularly  exhibited  at 
the  Camel  House,  close  by  the  Crotona  (southwest)  En- 
trance. 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLO.GICAL   PARK.  55 


VICUNIA. 

The  Dromedary,  or  Single-Humped  Camel,  (Camelus  dro- 
medarius),  is  a  smaller  animal  than  the  preceding,  of  lighter 
build,  and  therefore  capable  of  much  more  speed  in  travel- 
ling. This  species  never  is  clothed  with  long  hair. 

Next  to  the  Camel  House  and  corrals  is  the  installation 
for  the  nearest  relatives  of  those  species, — the  Llamas,  Gua- 
nacos  and  other  cameloids  of  South  America. 

THE  LLAMA  HOUSE,  No.  38. 

Collection  of  Cameloids  was  presented  by  Mr.  Robert  S. 
Brewster. 

The  arid  regions  of  South  America  are  inhabited  by  four 
species  of  long-necked,  long-haired,  soft-footed  animals,  so 
closely  related  to  the  camels  of  the  Old  "World  that  they  are 
called  cameloids.  There  are  four  species.  The  llama  and 
alpaca  are  in  a  state  of  domestication,  and  are  supposed  to 
have  been  derived  from  the  wild  guanaco  and  vicunia.  All 
of  them  might  almost  be  described  as  small-sized,  hump- 
less  camels ;  and  their  tempers  and  mental  traits  are  as  odd 
as  their  forms. 

The  ordinary  cameloid  is  a  quiet  and  inoffensive  creature ; 
but  the  exception  is  a  rogue  of  rogues.  It  will  bite  with  the 
persistence  of  a  bull-dog,  and  with  its  massive,  chisel-like 


56  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

lower  incisors  inflicts  ugly  wounds.  At  times  a  llama  or 
vicunia  becomes  actually  insane,  and  seeks  to  destroy  every 
living  creature  within  its  reach.  Regardless  of  punishment, 
such  creatures  attack  their  keepers  and  their  herd-mates, 
spit  upon  visitors,  and  rage  up  and  down  their  corrals  in 
most  absurd  fashion.  Occasionally  such  individuals  require 
to  be  completely  isolated. 

The  Llama,  (Lama  glama),  is  the  largest  and  strongest 
member  of  the  group.  Its  body  is  covered  with  a  thick 
mass  of  long,  wavy  hair  of  fine  texture,  which  may  be  either 
brown,  white,  white  and  brown,  or  almost  black.  The  head 
and  legs  are  short-haired  like  those  of  the  guanaco.  From 
time  immemorial,  this  animal  has  been  used  as  a  beast  of 
burden,  and  in  the  Andes  has  played  an  important  part  in 
the  mineral  industry  by  carrying  silver  ore  and  bullion  from 
the  mines. 

The  Alpaca,  (Lama  pacos),  is  bred  for  its  wool.  It  is 
smaller  than  the  llama,  but  more  abundantly  haired  on  the 
legs,  neck  and  head.  Its  fleece  is  long,  and  lies  in  stringy 
tufts.  Usually  its  color  is  dark  brown  or  black,  but  oc- 
casionally a  white  Alpaca  is  seen.  A  white  specimen  in  the 
Zoological  Park  collection  has  blue  eyes. 

The  Guanaco,  (Lama  guanacus),  is  one  of  the  most  inter- 
esting and  valuable  wild  animals  now  found  in  Patagonia. 
Unfortunately,  it  is  so  stupid  and  incapable  that  it  is  easily 
killed.  The  natives  of  Terra  del  Fuego,  themselves  almost 
the  lowest  and  most  ignorant  of  men,  slaughter  Guanacos 
for  food  by  surrounding  groups  of  them  and  clubbing  them 
to  death. 

In  size  the  Guanaco  is  between  the  llama  and  vicunia, 
and  its  shoulder  height  is  about  4  feet.  Its  hair  is  thick  and 
woolly,  of  a  pale  reddish  color,  and  there  are  naked  patches 
on  the  legs.  This  species  is  found  on  the  Andes,  from  Ecua- 
dor to  Terra  del  Fuego,  and  appears  to  be  most  abundant  in 
Patagonia. 

The  Vicunia,  (Lama  vicunia},  is  the  only  member  of  the 
cameloid  group  which  is  not  clothed  with  a  mass  of  long 
hair.  It  is  the  smallest  member  of  the  group,  comparatively 
short-haired,  its  color  is  a  uniform  light  brown,  its  head  is 
small,  and  there  are  no  callosities  on  the  hind  legs.  The 
Vieunia  is  found  from  southern  Ecuador,  through  Peru  to 
central  Bolivia. 


NEW   YORK   ZOOLOGICAL   PARK.  57 

NORTH  AMERICAN  DEER. 
Elk,  Mule  Deer,  White-Tail,  Caribou  and  Moose. 

The  American  members  of  the  Deer  Family  will  be  found 
in  the  ranges  situated  on  the  hill  west  of  the  Wild-Fowl 
Pond,  stretching  from  the  Llama  House  northward  to  the 
Service  Road. 

After  several  years  of  experiments,  we  must  admit  that  to 
all  the  American  members  of  the  Deer  Family  save  the  wapiti 
white-tailed  and  mule  deer,  the  climate  of  New  York  City  is 
decidedly  inimical.  This  densely  humid  and  extremely  sa- 
line atmosphere  is  about  as  deadly  to  the  black-tail,  caribou 
and  moose  as  it  is  co  the  Eskimo;  and  thus  far  we  have 
found  it  an  absolute  impossibility  to  maintain  satisfactory 
herds  of  those  species  in  the  ranges  available  for  them.  In 
great  tracts  of  forests,  some  of  them  might  become  acclima- 
tized ;  but,  be  that  as  it  may,  all  experiments  made  thus  far 
both  here  and  in  two  of  the  great  game  preserves  of  New 
England,  prove  conclusively  that  black-tail  deer,  mule  deer, 
caribou,  moose,  and  also  prong-horned  antelope,  are  among 
the  most  difficult  of  all  ruminants  to  acclimatize  anywhere 
in  the  United  States  eastward  of  the  great  plains. 

Although  the  Zoological  Society  will  continue  its  experi- 
ments with  some  of  these  preserve  species,  and  will  always 
strive  to  exhibit  some  of  them,  our  original  hopes  regarding 
them  have  been  abandoned.  We  are  certain  that  the  diffi- 
culty lies  not  in  the  food,  but  in  climate  conditions,  that  are 
beyond  our  control,  and  especially  our  very  salty  atmosphere. 

The  American  Elk,  or  Wapiti,  (Cervus  canadensis.) — Of 
all  the  numerous  members  of  the  Deer  Family,  this  animal  is 
second  in  size  to  the  moose  only;  and  in  the  autumn,  when 
its  pelage  is  bright  and  luxuriant,  its  sides  well  rounded,  its 
massive  antlers  clean  and  held  conspiculously  aloft,  the  elk 
may  justly  be  called  the  king  of  the  Cerzndae.  It  is  well 
that  in  the  Yellowstone  Park  we  have  an  unfailing  supply 
of  Elk,  which  bids  fair  to  perpetuate  this  handsome  species 
for  another  century. 

Our  Elk  Range  might  well  stand  for  a  mountain  park,  in 
which  is  set  a  natural  lakelet  of  real  value.  In  October, 
when  the  splendid  groves  of  beech,  oak,  and  maple  along 
the  eastern  ridge  put  on  all  the  glorious  tints  of  autumn, 
and  the  big  thicket  of  sumacs,  ash,  and  haw  on  the  northern 
hill  fairly  blaze  with  scarlet — then  are  the  elk  also  at  their 


BRICAN    ELK. 


EUROPEAN    RED    DEER. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  59 

best.  There  is  no  finer  picture  in  animate  nature  than  a 
herd  of  elk  in  October,  with  such  a  setting  of  greensward, 
tree-trunk,  and  foliage. 

The  maximum  shoulder  height  of  the  Elk  is  5  feet  4 
inches,  or  thereabouts,  and  the  heaviest  weight  noted  thus 
far  is  927  pounds. 

The  calves  are  born  from  May  to  July,  and  are  spotted 
during  the  first  six  months.  During  the  first  year  the  ant- 
lers are  merely  two  straight  spikes,  called  "dag  antlers." 
As  in  all  members  of  the  Deer  Family,  the  antlers  are  shed 
every  year — which  to  many  persons  is  almost  beyond  be- 
lief. Any  person  who  visits  a  zoological  garden  in  mid- 
summer will  see  that  the  old  antlers  have  dropped  off  bodily, 
just  below  the  burr,  and  that  new  antlers,  covered  with  hair, 
soft,  full  of  blood,  and  with  club-like  "points,"  have  sprung 
up  like  mushrooms  in  place  of  the  old  ones.  In  supplying 
the  great  drain  on  the  system  necessary  to  support  this  re- 
markable growth,  the  Elk  grows  thin,  and  the  fear  of  hurt- 
ing his  tender  young  antlers  makes  him  quite  timid  and  in- 
offensive. He  is  no  longer  the  tyrant  of  the  herd,  and  a  con- 
stant menace  to  his  keepers. 

At  this  point  it  is  not  amiss  to  call  attention  to  the  differ- 
ences between  horns  and  antlers. 

A  horn  is  a  hollow  sheath,  growing  over  a  bony  core,  and 
except  in  the  case  of  the  prong-horned  antelope,  is  never 
shed.  Horns  are  worn  by  both  sexes  of  all  bison,  buffaloes, 
cattle,  antelope,  sheep,  and  goats. 

An  antler  is  of  solid  bone  throughout,  growing  from  the 
skull ;  it  is  shed  every  year  close  to  the  skull,  and  quickly 
renewed.  Usually  antlers  have  several  branches.  They  are 
worn  by  nearly  all  male  members  of  the  Deer  Family — moose, 
elk,  caribou,  deer,  etc.,  and  clso  by  the  female  caribou.  The 
prongs  on  an  antler  are  no  index  of  the  wearer's  age.  Some 
of  the  finest  and  most  massive  elk  antlers  have  only  twelve 
or  fourteen  points.  During  August  and  September  the  hairy 
covering,  or  "velvet,"  of  new  antlers  is  rubbed  off  against 
trees  and  bushes.  This  period  is  quickly  followed  by  the 
mating  season,  during  which  the  neck  of  the  bull  becomes 
unusually  large,  and  often  the  animal  becomes  dangerous. 

Although  the  Elk  is  essentially  a  timber-loving  animal,  it 
also  wandered  far  into  the  plains  bordering  the  Rocky 
Mountains  on  the  east — until  driven  from  them  by  man. 
The  ideal  home  of  this  animal  is  the  timbered  foothills  of 
our  western  mountains,  up  to  8,000  feet.  Although  once 


60  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

found  from  Virginia  and  New  York  to  Oregon,  and  from 
northern  Manitoba  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  it  is  now  numer- 
ous only  in  and  adjacent  to  the  Yellowstone  Park,  in  cen- 
tral Colorado,  where  it  is  well  protected,  and  in  western 
Manitoba.  The  number  of  Elk  in  the  National  Park  is 
variously  estimated  at  from  10,000  head  to  a  much  larger 
number. 

In  a  wild  state,  the  Elk  feeds  on  grasses,  weeds,  and  the 
leaves  and  twigs  of  various  trees  and  shrubs.  Of  all  Amer- 
ican deer,  it  is  the  most  easy  to  acclimate  and  breed  in 
captivity.  Large  herds  are  now  being  maintained  and 
bred  in  numerous  private  game  preserves  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, New  York,  Minnesota,  Massachusetts,  and  elsewhere. 
About  200  head  have  been  released  in  the  Adirondacks. 

The  Mule  Deer,  (Odocoileus  hcmionus. — This  fine  animal 
is  universally  known  throughout  the  Rocky  Mountain  re- 
gion, which  constitutes  its  home,  as  the  "Black-Tailed  Deer." 
Because  of  its  very  large  ears,  and  the  absence  of  a  black 
tail,  it  is  known  to  naturalists  as  the  Mule  Deer.  Inasmuch 
as  its  tail  is  not  black,  the  above  more  common  name  prop- 
erly applies  to  Odocoileus  columbianus,  the  true  black-tailed 
deer  of  the  Pacific  coast.  In  Manitoba  this  animal  is  called 
the  "Jumping  Deer,"  because  when  running  at  a  gallop,  it 
makes  a  series  of  stiff -legged  jumps,  or  "bucks,"  of  great 
length. 

The  weight  of  full-grown  bucks  ranges  from  250  to  300 
pounds,  and  specimens  have  been  known  to  reach  325 
pounds.  The  antlers  of  the  Mule  Deer  are  larger  and  hand- 
somer than  those  of  the  white-tailed  deer,  and  are  much 
better  poised  on  the  head.  Instead  of  dropping  forward, 
they  partake  more  of  the  set  of  an  elk's  antlers,  and  many 
a  "tenderfoot"  hunter  has  mistaken  a  heavily-antlered 
Mule  Deer  for  an  elk.  The  antlers  of  a  Mule  Deer  are 
easily  distinguished  from  those  of  the  white-tailed  species 
by  the  two  Y-shaped  prongs  on  each  antler.  It  will  be  re- 
membered that  instead  of  these,  the  white-tailed  deer  antler 
bears  three  straight,  perpendicular  spikes. 

The  Mule  Deer  makes  its  home  in  rugged  ravines  and 
bad  lands  so  common  along  the  creeks  and  rivers  of  the 
Rocky  Mountain  region,  extending  well  eastward  into  the 
plains.  Of  late  years  it  has  been  driven  out  of  the  most 
accessible  of  its  former  haunts,  and  forced  to  take  shelter 
in  the  rugged  fastnesses  of  the  foothills  and  mountains. 
West  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  is  was  formerly  found  along 


5.  6. 

DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  ANTLERS  OF  A  MALE  DEER. 

These  pictures  show  the  stages  of  growth  of  the  antlers  from  the 
time  the  old  ones  are  dropped,  to  the  full  development.  Number  1  shows 
the  bull  with  the  one  antler  gone — picture  made  early  in  March.  Num- 
ber 6  shows  the  full  grown  antlers,  with  the  velvet  hanging  in  strips. 
Number  6  was  made  August  24  of  the  same  year  as  Number  1.  This 
remarkable  antler  development  takes  place  every  year  in  the  life  of 
-all  male  deer. 


62  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

the  whole  Pacific  slope,  from  Cape  St.  Lucas  to  British 
Columbia,  although  in  northern  California  it  is  almost  re- 
placed by  the  Columbian  Black-Tail,  (0.  columbianus}. 

The  White-Tailed  Deer,  (Odocoileus  virginianus) ,  is  the 
species  most  widely  known  throughout  the  United  States, 
partly  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  it  was  the  first  species 
with  which  the  early  settlers  of  America  became  acquainted, 
partly  because  of  its  wide  distribution,  and  also  its  persist- 
ence in  holding  its  own.  In  various  localities  this  animal 
is  known  under  various  names,  such  as  ' '  White-Tailed  Deer, ' ' 
' '  Flag-Tailed  Deer, ' '  and  ' '  Fan-Tailed  Deer. ' '  Although  not 
at  all  in  need  of  it,  quite  recently  it  has  received  still  an 
other  name — American  Deer.  The  small  deer  of  Florida, 
and  also  of  New  Mexico  and  the  Southwest,  have  been 
described  as  separate  forms;  and  if  size  is  to  be  accepted 
as  a  factor  in  the  differentiation  of  species,  the  diminutive 
proportions  of  the  proposed  southern  species  are  quite  suffi- 
cient to  establish  their  separate  identity. 

The  White-Tailed  deer  of  Virginia  and  the  northern  United 
States  is  a  fine  animal — large,  strong-limbed,  heavily-ant- 
lered,  and  hardy.  Between  it  and  the  deer  of  Florida  the 
difference  is  as  great  as  that  between  a  setter  dog  and  a  mas- 
tiff. Thanks  to  the  fact  that  this  species  is  a  born  skulker 
and  lives  only  in  thick  brush  and  timber,  it  still  holds  its 
own  throughout  the  forest  regions  of  the  South  generally, 
Pennsylvania,  the  Adirondacks,  Maine,  Michigan,  Minne- 
sota, the  Dakotas,  Montana,  and  Colorado.  In  the  West 
it  is  often  found  inhabiting  brushy  ravines  and  river  bot- 
toms. 

This  species  breeds  readily  in  confinement,  and  when  pro- 
tected in  any  large  tract  of  brush  or  timber,  increases 
rapidly.  During  the  months  of  September,  October,  and 
November,  the  bucks  are  dangerous  and  untrustworthy. 
The  peculiar  formation  of  the  antlers — three  strong,  spear- 
like  points  thrust  straight  upward  from  the  beam — makes 
them  dangerous  weapons ;'  and  when  an  ill-tempered  buck 
lowers  his  chin  and  drives  straight  forward  with  eight 
sharp  spears  of  solid  bone,  and  nearly  three  hundred  pounds 
of  weight  to  back  them,  he  may  well  be  considered  a  dan- 
gerous animal.  He  is  to  be  feared  less  than  the  elk  only 
because  he  is  smaller. 

The  Woodland  Caribou,  (Rangifer  caribou}. — The  first 
hoofed  animal  to  arrive  at  the  Zoological  Park  was  a  young 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  63 

female  of  this  species,  which  was  procured  in  Champlain 
County,  Canada,  and  forwarded  to  the  Society  by  one  of 
our  members,  Mr.  George  S.  Huntington.  These  animals, 
when  present  in  the  Park,  will  be  kept  in  a  small  enclo- 
sure, because  a  large  range  containing  an  abundance  of 
green  grass  is  fatal  to  them. 

The  wild  range  of  the  Woodland  Caribou  extends  from 
Newfoundland,  Nova  Scotia,  and  Maine,  with  many  wide 
gaps,  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Yukon  River,  in  southern 
Alaska.  The  following  localities  are  worthy  of  special  men- 
tion :  northern  Quebec  and  Ontario ;  James  Bay ;  the  north- 
ern end  of  Lake  Winnipeg  (occasionally)  ;  Lake  of  Woods, 
Minnesota;  Oregon  near  Mount  Hood;  northern  Idaho; 
northwestern  Montana,  and  the  mountains  of  British  Co- 
lumbia. 

Quite  recently,  three  new  species  of  caribou  have  been 
added  to  our  fauna,  one  from  the  Alaskan  Peninsula  (Ran- 
gifer granti),  one  from  the  Kenai  Peninsula  (Rangifer  sto- 
nei),  and  one  from  the  Cassiar  Mountains  (Rangifer  os- 
borni). 

The  Woodland  Caribou  attains  nearly  twice  the  bodily 
bulk  of  its  more  northern  congener,  the  Barren-Ground 
caribou.  In  a  state  of  nature  it  lives  on  browse,  reindeer 
moss,  tree  moss,  and  lichens,  and  it  loves  ice-covered  lakes 
and  ponds  as  much  as  any  boy.  Its  loose-jointed  and  wide 
spreading  hoofs  and  enormously  developed  ''dew-claws" 
have  been  specially  designed  by  Nature  to  enable  this  ani- 
mal to  run  freely,  as  if  on  snow-shoes,  over  snow  or  bogs, 
which  to  any  small-hoofed  deer  would  be  quite  impassable. 

The  female  Woodland  Caribou  is  provided  with  small  ant- 
lers, which,  like  those  of  the  male,  are  shed  and  renewed 
annually. 

In  the  absence  of  caribou  in  the  Park,  visitors  are  advised 
to  look  for  specimens  of  the  Lapland  Reindeer,  (Rangifer 
tarandtis),  for  we  shall  endeavor  to  keep  this  genus  rep- 
resented. 

THE  ZEBRA  HOUSES,  No.  14. 

Although  the  main  building  of  this  installation  has  not 
yet  been  erected,  the  plan  for  the  various  buildings  and 
corrals  has  been  approved,  and  the  main  building  was 
begun  in  1911  and  completed  in  1912.  The  three  buildings, 
and  the  extensive  corrals  connecting  with  them,  as  a 


64  POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUlDc.. 


GRANT    ZEBRA. 

whole,  do  justice  to  the  important  and  picturesque  Family 
Equidae,  which  includes  all  the  zebras,  wild  asses  and  wild 
horses  of  the  world. 

The  Prjevalsky  Horses,  (Equus  prjevalskii). — Of  all  the 
wild  equines  which  either  now  or  hereafter  may  be  seen  in 
the  Zoological  Park,  the  strange  little  wild  horses  from 
western  Mongolia  are,  and  probably  will  remain,  the  most 
interesting,  from  a  zoological  point  of  view.  Broadly  speak- 
ing, they  are  the  connecting  link  between  the  many-striped 
zebras,  the  little-striped  quaggas  and  the  wild  asses  on  one 
side,  and  the  domestic,  unstriped  horse  on  the  other.  These 
wild  horses  possess  a  narrow,  dark  dorsal  stripe,  which,  in 
the  winter  pelage  is  scarcely  visible,  but  in  summer  is  plainly 
evident.  A  perfect  specimen  has  an  erect  mane,  no  long 
forelock  and  no  "chestnuts"  on  its  legs.  On  the  upper 
half  of  its  tail  the  hair  is  short,  and  mule-like,  but  on  the 
lower,  or  terminal  half,  it  is  long  and  horse-like.  The  win- 
ter coat  of  this  animal  is  very  long  and  shaggy. 

Mountain  Zebra,  (Equus  zebra}. — This  species  has  been 
nearly  exterminated  by  man,  and  is  rarely  seen  in  captivity. 
It  inhabits  the  mountains  of  Cape  Colony,  and  it  is  estimated 
that  only  400  individuals  remain,  which  now  are  carefully 
protected. 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL   PARK. 


65 


PRJPTVALSKY   HORSES. 


Grevy  Zebra,  (Equus  grcvyi}. — This  picturesque  species 
was  discovered  in  Abyssinia,  when  Jules  Grevy  was  presi- 
dent of  France,  and  it  was  named  in  his  honor.  It  is  of 
large  size,  covered  with  very  narrow  stripes  all  over  its  body, 
head  and  limbs,  and  its  huge  ears  are  of  remarkable  form. 
This  species  is  limited  to  southern  Abyssinia  and  British 
East  Africa  southward  to  the  Tana  River. 

Grant  Zebra,  (Equus  burchelli  granti}. — Of  all  the  zebras 
now  seen  in  captivity,  the  great  majority  belong  to  what 
very  properly  may  be  designated  as  the  group  of  Burchell 
Zebras.  This  group  contains,  besides  the  type  species,  which 
has  practically  no  stripes  on  its  legs,  four  subspecies,  whose 
legs  are  more  or  less  striped,  and  which  may  or  may  not 
possess  ''shadow  stripes"  on  the  hind-quarters.  A  "shadow 
stripe"  is  a  faint,  dark  stripe  in  the  middle  of  a  wide  white 
or  pale  yellow  stripe  which  lies  between  two  broad  black 
stripes. 

Grant  Zebra  is  the  most  heavily  striped  of  the  subspecies 
composing  the  Burchell  group.  The  visitor  will  observe 
that  its  horizontal  leg-stripes  are  very  pronounced,  and  so 
numerous  that  they  are  carried  quite  down  to  the  hoofs. 
The  ground-color  of  the  animal  k  a  cold  white,  and  the 
thigh  and  body  stripes  are  very  wide  and  intense.  This 
fine  pair  was  captured  in  Masailand,  East  Africa,  in  1902. 


66  POPULAR   OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 

Chapman  Zebra,  (Equus  burchelli  chapmani],  also  belongs 
to  the  Burchell  group,  and  in  its  color  pattern  it  approaches 
quite  nearly  to  the  type.  The  legs  of  the  male  bear  a  few 
stripes,  those  of  the  female  almost  none.  There  are  visible  on 
the  hind-quarters  of  the  female  a  few  faint  shadow-stripes. 

The  Persian  Wild  Ass,  (Equus  persicus},  is  a  very  satis- 
factory representative  of  the  wild  asses  generally.  Its  dor- 
sal-stripe is  very  wide  and  sharply  defined,  but  it  bears  no 
shoulder-stripe,  and  those  that  are  faintly  indicated  on  its 
legs  are  nothing  more  than  oblong  blotches  of  dark  color. 
As  its  name  implies,  it  inhabits  Persia,  and  Syria,  and  a 
closely  related  form,  the  Onager,  (E.  onager},  is  found  in 
Beluchistan  and  western  India.  A  third  species,  the  Eiang 
(E.  hemionus),  is  found  on  the  plains  of  Tibet. 


THE  ASIATIC  AND  EUROPEAN  DEER,  Nos.  1-3. 

In  representatives  of  the  deer,  (Family  Cenndae),  Asia 
far  surpasses  all  other  countries.  Her  species  number  about 
38, — fully  double  that  of  any  other  continental  area, — and 
from  the  great  Altai  wapiti  to  the  tiny  musk  deer,  the  varia- 
tions in  size  and  form  are  fairly  bewildering.  The  entire 
hill  that  rises  between  the  Fordham  Entrance  and  Bird 
Valley,  from  Cope  Lake  to  the  Zebra  Houses,  is  devoted 
to  the  series  of  houses,  corrals  and  ranges  that  are  occupied 
by  the  deer  of  Asia  and  Europe. 

It  is  quite  certain  that  a  number  of  desirable  species  of 
Asiatic  deer  can  successfully  be  acclimatized  in  the  parks 
and  game  preserves  of  America,  and  induced  to  breed.  Al- 
most without  an  exception  they  are  strong  and  vigorous 
feeders,  and  they  keep  fat  and  sleek  when  our  own  black- 
tail,  mule  deer  and  white-tail  mince  like  pampered  epicures, 
grow  thinner  and  thinner,  and  finally  die  of  ' '  malnutrition. ' ' 

Believing  that  the  members  of  the  group  amply  justify 
the  effort,  the  Zoological  Society  has  been  at  considerable 
pains  to  bring  together  a  fine,  representative  collection  of 
the  Old  "World  Cervidae  and  properly  install  its  members. 
Although  the  series  proposed  is  not  quite  complete,  it  con- 
tains such  rarities  as  the  Altai  Wapiti,  Barasingha,  Burmese 
Thameng,  Malay  and  Indian  Sambar,  and  several  others. 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  67 

They  are  sheltered  by  four  houses,  the  largest  of  which 
crowns  the  summit  of  the  hill  on  the  right  of  Osborn 
Walk  as  the  visitor  enters  from  Pordham.  For  ,the  visitors' 
convenience  we  will  make  note  of  the  various  species  about 
in  the  order  of  their  appearance,  and  not  in  zoological  se- 
quence. 

The  Axis  Deer,  (Axis  axis),  is  the  handsomest  of  all  the 
tropical  deer.  Indeed,  it  may  even  be  said  to  be  the  only 
species  of  the  tropics  possessing  both  form  and  pelage  which 
are  alike  pleasing  to  the  eye.  In  contrast  with  the  many 
beautiful  and  splendidly  colored  antelopes  of  Africa,  the 
deer  of  the  tropics,  all  round  the  world,  are  poorly  provided 
with  those  characters  which  make  a  handsome  animal. 
With  the  sole  exception  of  the  Axis  Deer,  nearly  all  the 
other  deer  of  the  East  Indies  have  thin,  coarse,  dull-colored 
hair,  their  antlers  are  small,  and  seldom  have  more  than  four 
points.  This  is  equally  true  of  the  deer  of  Mexico,  Central 
and  South  America.  Even  our  own  white-tailed  deer,  so 
lusty  and  fine  in  the  North,  becomes  in  Florida  and  Texas  so 
dwarfed  that  it  has  now  been  called  a  subspecies. 

Considering  the  severe  plainness  of  all  the  other  deer  in 
the  tropics,  it  is  a  little  strange  that  the  coat  of  the  Axis 
should  be  the  most  beautiful  possessed  by  any  deer.  But  it 
is  quite  true ;  and  apart  from  the  majesty  of  the  elk,  there 
is  no  more  beautiful  sight  in  cervine  life  than  the  picture 
offered  by  a  herd  of  Axis  Deer  feeding  in  a  sunlit  glade 
surrounded  by  forest. 

This  species  adapts  itself  to  out-door  life  in  the  temperate 
zone  with  surprising  readiness,  not  even  second  in  that 
respect  to  the  eland.  As  a  matter  of  course  the  Axis  can  not 
withstand  the  fierce  blizzards  of  midwinter  as  do  the  elk 
and  other  northern  deer;  but  a  reasonable  degree  of  care 
in  providing  it  with  a  dry  barn,  and  shelter  from  cold  winds, 
enables  it  to  live  even  as  far  north  as  northern  Germany 
with  perfect  comfort.  In  winter  our  Axis  Deer  barn  is  mod- 
erately heated  by  a  stove. 

The  Japanese  Sika  Deer,  (Cervus  sika  typicus),  is  a  small 
representative  of  a  large  group  of  deer  species  inhabiting 
far-eastern  Asia,  and  known  as  the  Sika  Deer  group.  A 
ridiculous  number  of  forms  have  been  described  as  species 
and  subspecies,  of  which  possibly  one-third  are  entitled  to 
stand.  Some  of  those  on  the  Asian  mainland,  as  the  Pekin 
Sika  Deer,  are  much  larger  than  the  Japanese  Sika,  and 


68 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


AXIS   DEER. 

also  more  strikingly  colored.  The  latter  species,  shown  in 
our  northernmost  corral,  is  about  33  inches  in  height,  and  of 
a  dull  and  uninteresting  smoky-brown  color.  Its  antlers 
are  quite  large  for  a  deer  so  small,  and  in  the  mating  season 
males  are  sometimes  dangerous.  This  species  is  very  hardy, 
breeds  persistently,  requires  no  heat  in  winter,  and  very 
rarely  sends  a  case  to  the  hospital. 

The  Fallow  Deer,  (Dama  vulgaris),  is  the  type  of  a  dis- 
tinct group  of  deer  which  are  distinguished  by  the  posses- 
sion of  antlers  widely  palmated  throughout  the  upper  half 
of  the  beam.  In  some  old  Fallow  bucks  the  antlers  are 
quite  moose-like,  and  give  this  small  deer  an  imposing  ap- 
pearance far  crut  of  proportion  to  its  actual  size.  The 
weight  of  a  large  buck  in  prime  condition  generally  is  be- 
tween 180  and  200  pounds,  and  its  shoulder  height  is 
between  36  and  40  inches.  The  largest  antlers  recorded 
by  Mr.  J.  G.  Millais,  in  his  beautiful  work  on  "The  British 
Deer,"  measured  29^  inches  in  length,  2SJ/2  inches  spread, 
width  of  palmation  8  inches,  and  the  number  of  points  14. 
The  extinct  Irish  elk,  with  the  most  colossal  antlers  ever 
carried  by  a  cervine  animal,  was  a  near  relative  of  the 
two  living  species  of  Fallow  Deer. 

Although  a  native  of  northern  Africa  and  the  north  shore 
of  the  Mediterranean,  the  Fallow  Deer  was  acclimatized  in 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


69 


BURMESE   DEER. 

England  and  northern  Europe  so  long  ago  that  the  exact 
date  records  of  the  event  have  disappeared,  and  the  species 
is  now  at  home  in  very  many  European  forests  and  game 
preserves.  The  deer  parks  in  England  possess  many  fine 
herds,  but  they  sometimes  exhibit  one  unfortunate  result  of 
long  breeding  in  a  semi-domesticated  state — departure  from 
the  original  type. 

The  typical  Fallow  Deer  is  in  winter  very  dark  brown, 
with  light  brown  legs  and  under  parts,  and  in  summer  light 
red  with  white  spots — quite  like  the  axis.  From  this  stand- 
ard, the  variations  run  from  pure  white  through  the  color 
of  the  wild  type  to  jet  black. 

The  fine  herd  in  the  Zoological  Park  is  the  gift  of  Mr. 
"William  Rockefeller.  Six  of  its  original  members  came 
from  the  donor's  herd  at  Greenwich,  Connecticut,  and  six 
were  purchased  from  one  of  the  imperial  parks  of  Russia, 
by  consent  of  the  Czar,  and  represent  the  most  hardy  stock 
obtainable. 

The  Burmese,  or  Eld  Deer,  (Cervus  eldi),  also  known  as 
the  Brow-Antler  Deer,  is  one  of  the  rarest  species  to  be  seen 
in  captivity.  Living  specimens  are  acquired  only  through 
special  expeditions  to  northern  Burma.  Its  most  char- 
acteristic feature  is  the  antlers  of  the  male,  which  sends 
forward  a  very  long  and  almost  straight  brow  tine,  while 


70  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

the  main  beam  sweeps  backward  in  the  opposite  direction, 
and  describes  a  full  semicircle.  The  antlers  are  both  very 
heavy  and  long  for  the  size  of  the  animal.  The  specimens 
shown  here,  which  are  breeding  satisfactorily,  are  the  gift  of 
Mr.  William  Rockefeller. 

The  Barasingha  Deer,  (Cervus  duvauceli),  also  called  the 
Swamp  Deer,  is  to  India  what  the  mule  deer  is  to  North 
America.  To  my  mind,  the  antlers  of  the  former  always 
suggests  the  latter  species,  and  in  size  the  two  species  are 
much  alike.  In  summer  the  coat  of  the  Barasingha  is  of  a 
beautiful  golden-yellow  color,  conspicuous  from  afar,  and 
the  antlers  of  old  males  reach  a  length  of  from  35  to  41 
inches,  with  three  bifurcations  on  each  beam.  The  antlers 
sometimes  are  shed  and  renewed  twice  in  twelve  months. 
With  us  this  species  breeds  very  regularly,  and  the  off- 
spring mature  well. 

The  Altai  Wapiti,  (Cervus  canadensis  asiaticus),  is,  in  all 
probability,  the  parent  stock  of  our  American  elk,  but  it 
happens  to  be  a  fact  that  our  species  was  the  first  to  be 
discovered  by  systematic  zoologists,  and  described.  To  all 
visitors  who  are  interested  in  deer,  the  Altai  Wapiti — and 
also  the  Tashkent  Wapiti — are  a  constant  source  of  wonder, 
because  of  their  well-nigh  perfect  similarity  in  all  points 
to  our  own  wapiti,  or  American  elk.  Our  Asiatic  wapiti 
are  exhibited  in  ranges  connecting  with  the  western  rooms 
of  the  Asiatic  Deer  House,  where  they  have  bred  twice,  and 
produced  two  fine  fawns.  In  the  rutting  season  the  males 
are  very  cross  and  dangerous.  They  are  hardy,  and  re- 
quire no  heat  in  winter. 

The  Indian  Sambar,  (Cervus  unicolor),  always  suggests  a 
tropical  understudy  of  the  Altai  wapiti,  clad  with  thin, 
coarse,  bristly  hair,  and  with  shorter  and  smaller  antlers, 
and  a  bristly  mane  all  over  the  neck.  Each  antler  possesses 
three  points,  only.  Of  all  the  Old  World  Cerindae,  this 
species  most  nearly  approaches  the  size  of  the  Altai  and 
Tashkent  wapiti.  It  inhabits  the  hill  forests  of  India,  and 
in  Burma,  Siam  and  farther  south  it  is  replaced  by  the  next 
species. 

The  Malay  Sambar,  (Cenms  eqninus},  also  called — most 
inappropriately — the  "Horse-Tailed  Deer,"  very  strongly 
resembles  the  preceding  species,  except  that  the  bristly 
mane  of  the  former  is  generally  absent.  The  antlers  of 
this  species  are  shorter,  also,  but  very  thick  in  proportion 
to  their  length.  The  Malay  Sambar  is  confined  to  the  Malay 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  71 

Peninsula  and  the  countries  immediately  above,  and  Borneo 
and  Sumatra. 

This  species  possesses  many  admirable  qualities,  and  it 
might  be  introduced  to  advantage  in  our  southern  states. 
It  is  very  even-tempered  and  sensible,  easily  handled,  is 
a  vigorous  feeder,  breeds  persistently,  and  matures  very 
rapidly;  but  in  every  New  York  winter,  it  requires  some 
heat  in  its  barn. 

The  Maral  Deer,  (Cervus  maral),  is  in  appearance  like  an 
extra  large  red  deer  or  a  small  elk.  It  is  a  midway  mem- 
ber of  the  Wapiti  group,  which  extends  in  a  somewhat 
broken  chain  from  Colorado,  northward  across  Bering  Strait 
to  Asia,  and  thence  across  Asia  and  Europe  to  Scotland. 
We  have  owned  a  fine  pair  of  Maral  Deer,  from  the  Cau- 
casus district,  but  they  have  failed  to  breed  as  expected. 

The  European  Red  Deer,  (Cervus  elaphus),  is  an  under- 
study of  the  American  elk,  which  it  much  resembles  in 
form  and  in  habits.  Next  to  the  elk  it  is  the  finest  living 
deer,  and  for  many  generations  has  held  its  own  against 
the  dangers  of  in-breeding.  In  the  parks  and  forest  pre- 
serves of  Great  Britain  and  Europe,  it  exists  abundantly, 
but  only  as  private  property,  subject  to  the  guns  of  the 
owner  and  his  friends.  This  species  has  been  successfully 
crossed  with  the  American  elk. 

Other  Asiatic  Deer  will  be  found  in  the  Small-Deer  House, 
in  the  southern  end  of  the  Park. 

THE  LION  HOUSE,  No.  15. 

As  a  spectacle  of  captive  animal  life,  there  is  none  more 
inspiring  than  a  spacious,  well-lighted  and  finely-appointed 
lion  house,  filled  with  a  collection  of  the  world's  greatest 
and  handsomest  wild  beasts.  To  build  an  ideal  lion  house, 
and  to  fill  it  with  a  first-class  collection  of  large  felines,  are 
matters  involving  no  little  time  and  much  money;  but  the 
sight, — for  the  millions  of  visitors, — of  lions,  tigers,  jaguars, 
pumas,  leopards,  cheetahs,  black  leopards,  snow  leopards 
and  clouded  leopards,  all  under  one  roof,  surely  is  worth 
what  it  costs. 

The  Lion  House  of  the  Zoological  Park  was  completed, 
excepting  a  few  minor  details,  early  in  the  year  1903,  and 
was  formally  opened  to  the  public  in  February.  It  is  244 
feet,  long,  115  feet  wide,  including  the  outdoor  cages,  and  its 
cost  when  completed  reached  $150,000.  The  materials  of 
the  building  are  the  same  kind  as  those  used  in  the  Rep- 


72 


POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


JAGUAR. 

tile  House  and  Primate  House,  but  the  animal  sculptures, 
all  by  Mr.  Eli  Harvey,  are  more  abundant  and  conspicuous 
than  on  any  other  structure  erected  heretofore.  The  build- 
ing contains  13  indoor  cages,  and  9  outdoor  cages,  and  be- 
tween the  two  there  is  free  communication.  The  sizes  of 
the  various  cages  are  as  follows: 

Interior  cages:  Largest,  14  feet  wide,  22  feet  deep;  small- 
est, 13  feet  wide,  14  feet  high. 

Exterior  cages:  two  end  cages,  40x44  feet,  17  feet  high; 
central  cage,  40  feet  square,  14  feet  high;  smallest,  13  feet 
wide,  12  feet  deep,  13  feet  high. 

Excepting  for  the  single  fact  of  having  interior  and  ex- 
terior cages,  the  Lion  House  of  the  Zoological  Park  is — like 
the  Primate  House — an  entirely  original  development.  Its 
most  important  new  features  are  as  follows: 

All  cage  service,  the  introducing  and  withdrawal  of  ani- 
mals, is  conducted  from  the  rear,  by  means  of  a  track  under- 
neath the  sleeping  dens,  and  an  elevating  platform  car.  ^ 

The  communication  between  indoor  and  outdoor  cages  is 
direct  and  continuous. 

Instead  of  upright  iron  bars,  all  the  cage  fronts  are  of 
hard-steel  wire  netting,  in  rectangular  pattern,  attached  to 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


73 


CHEETAH. 

wrought  iron  frames.  This  is  considered  by  the  Zoological 
Society  a  great  improvement  upon  the  heavy  bar-work 
hitherto  in  universal  use  for  cage  fronts  in  lion  houses. 

The  space  above  the  sleeping  dens  has  been  developed 
as  a  sunlit  balcony,  whereon  the  animals  will  be  very  con- 
spicuous, even  to  large  crowds  of  visitors. 

Jungle-green  tiling,  impervious  to  moisture  and  dirt,  is 
used  as  a  back-ground  for  the  animals. 

The  Lion  is  an  animal  of  perpetual  interest,  but  like 
every  other  noteworthy  wild  animal,  its  haunts  are  con- 
stantly being  claimed  by  civilization,  and  its  members  are 
rapidly  decreasing.  It  is  not  a  difficult  matter  to  exter- 
minate or  drive  out  from  a  given  territory  any  large  and 
conspicuous  quadruped,  and  at  the  present  rate  of  settle- 
ment and  industrial  development  in  Africa,  it  may  easily 
come  to  pass  that  by  the  end  of  the  present  century,  the 
king  of  beasts  will  be  without  a  home,  outside  of  zoological 
collections. 

Like  everything  great,  the  Lion  has  his  share  of  critics 
and  detractors.  A  few  writers  have  asserted  that  because  he 
does  not  stalk  through  his  native  forests  with  head  proudly 
erect,  like  a  drum-major  on  parade,  he  is  mean-spirited  and 
cowardly.  But  the  beast  of  noble  countenance  believes  in 


74  POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


BARBART   LION. 

the  survival  of  the  fittest,  and  both  by  inheritance  and 
observation  he  knows  that  a  lion  who  needlessly  exposes 
himself  in  the  field  captures  the  smallest  amount  of  game, 
and  attracts  the  greatest  number  of  steel-tipped  bullets. 

Although  Lions  vary  greatly  in  their  color,  and  in  the 
length  of  the  mane,  it  is  conceded  by  naturalists  that  only 
one  species  exists.  In  the  same  district  and  under  precisely 
similar  conditions  are  found  short-maned  and  long-maned 
individuals,  and  all  shades  of  color  from  tawny  yellow  to 
dark  brown.  The  present  geographic  range  of  the  species 
is  from  Southern  Rhodesia  to  Persia  and  northwestern 
India,  but  in  northern  Egypt  there  is  a  large  extent  of 
territory  which  is  lionless. 

By  reason  of  his  heavy  mane  and  massive  countenance, 
supported  by  the  grandest  roar  that  issues  from  throat  of 
beast,  the  Lion  appears  to  be  a  larger  animal  than  he  really 
is.  It  is  yet  an  unsettled  question  whether  it  exceeds  the 
tiger  in  length,  height  or  weight,  and  it  is  certainly  true 
that  in  point  of  size  these  two  species  are  very  evenly 
matched. 

In  captivity,  the  Lion  is  reasonably  contented,  and  under 
good  conditions  breeds  readily,  and  lives  a  goodly  number 
of  years. 

The  Siberian  Tiger. — Strange  to  say,  ,the  tigei'  ranges 
far  to  the  northward  of  its  proper  home  in  Hindustan,  even 
to  Corea,  Manchuria  and  Russian  Siberia.  In  those  cold 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


75 


SNOW   LEOPARD. 

regions  the  tiger  grows  to  its  greatest  size,  and  is  clothed 
with  a  dense  coat  of  long  and  shaggy  hair.  In  collections, 
the  great  northern  tigers  are  the  most  highly  prized.  The 
Zoological  Park  has  recently  acquired  from  East  Siberia 
two  fine  young  specimens,  born  early  in  1909,  and  all  the 
year  round  they  inhabit  the  great  northern  outdoor  cage 
attached  to  the  Lion  House.  It  is  a  strange  sight  to  see 
tigers  living  outdoors  in  winter  in  New  York. 

The  Tiger  will  be  found  upon  the  earth  long  after  the 
lion  has  disappeared.  He  is  a  far  better  hider,  a  more  skill- 
ful hunter,  less  given  to  taking  foolish  risks,  and  he  does  not 
advertise  his  presence  and  invite  his  enemies  by  the  bom- 
bastic roaring  in  which  the  lion  delights  to  indulge.  The 
Tiger  is  an  animal  of  serious  mind,  and  he  attends  strictly 
to  business.  A  lion  will  stalk  out  into  the  open,  in  broad 
day,  but  the  Tiger  sticks  closely  to  cover  until  the  friendly 
darkness  renders  it  safe  to  roam  abroad. 

Despite  the  density  of  the  population  of  India,  and  the 
omnipresence  of  sahibs  with  rifles  of  large  caliber,  the  Tiger 
still  inhabits  all  India  from  Cape  Comorin  to  the  Himalayas, 
the  Malay  Peninsula,  Sumatra,  Burma,  Siam,  and  certain 
portions  of  China  up  to  the  region  of  snows.  Corean  and 
Siberian  Tigers  are  much  sought  after  by  zoological  gar- 
dens, partly  on  account  of  their  size,  and  also  because  they 
are  so  hardy  they  are  able  to  live  out  doors  all  winter  in 


<0  POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 

the  temperate  zone.     The  Tiger  is  not  found  in  Africa,  nor 
in  any  country  westward  of  India. 

The  maximum  length  attained  by  this  animal,  head,  body 
and  tail,  is  10  feet  2  inches.  A  very  large  specimen 
killed  by  Dr.  Hornaday  measured  9  feet  8y2  inches  in  length, 
stood  3  feet  7  inches  high  at  the  shoulders,  and  weighed,  on 
the  scales,  495  pounds.  In  India,  Tigers  are  classed  accord- 
ing to  their  habits,  as  "game-killers,"  "cattle-lifters,"  or 
"man-eaters."  Fortunately,  in  comparison  with  the  total 
number  of  these  animals,  the  latter  are  few  and  far  between. 

Of  yellow-coated  felines,  The  Jaguar,  (Felis  onca),  is 
next  in  size  to  the  tiger.  In  South  America,  it  is  almost 
universally  called  "El  Tigre"  (pronounced  Te'-gre),  which 
is  Spanish  for  tiger.  Comparatively  few  Americans  are 
aware  that  this  superb  animal  belongs  in  the  fauna  of  the 
United  States,  but  such  is  the  fact.  The  northern  limit  of 
its  distribution  is  found  in  southern  Texas,  where  it  still 
exists  in  small  numbers.  In  South  America  it  extends  to 
Patagonia. 

The  Jaguar  is  a  stocky,  heavily-built  animal,  with  a  mas- 
sive head  and  powerful  forearm.  It  is  a  good  climber,  and 
many  wonderful  stories  of  its  strength  have  been  told  and 
printed.  Among  leopards  of  all  kinds  it  can  always  be 
identified  by  the  great  size  of  the  black  rosettes  on  its  body, 
as  well  as  by  its  heavy  build. 

The  splendid  male  specimen,  named  "Senor  Lopez,"  in 
honor  of  a  former  President  of  Paraguay,  was  the  first  to 
arrive  for  the  new  Lion  House.  It  was  captured  in  August, 
1901,  in  the  wilds  of  central  Paraguay,  expressly  for  us, 
through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  William  Mill  Butler,  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  by  him  presented  to  the  Zoological  Park.  After 
a  long  journey  in  small  river  craft,  in  a  flimsy  wooden  cage 
that  several  times  came  near  collapsing,  the  animal  reached 
Asuncion,  was  taken  to  Liverpool  by  Mr.  Butler,  and  finally 
reached  New  York. 

The  Leopard,  (Felis  pardus),  is  fourth  in  size  from  the 
lion,  and  is  distinguished  from  the  jaguar  by  smaller  spots 
and  less  powerful  form.  It  inhabits  both  Asia  and  Africa, 
from  Japan  to  Cape  Colony.  "While  the  species  is  regarded 
as  the  same  throughout  that  vast  extent  of  territory,  it  is 
undoubtedly  true  that  the  Leopards  of  Africa  have  smaller 
spots  and  more  intense  coloring  than  those  of  Asia.  The 
maximum  size  for  this  species  is  a  total  length  of  8  feet, 
which  is  attained  only  by  a  very  large  animal,  with  a  long 
tail. 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  77 

Naturally,  the  Leopard  preys  upon  smaller  animals 
than  those  most  sought  by  the  lion  and  tiger.  It  prefers 
small  antelopes,  and  young  animals  generally,  goats  and 
sheep.  When  pursued,  it  is  very  skilful  in  hiding,  and  will 
shelter  in  brushy  cover  until  fairly  beaten  out. 

The  Black  Leopard  is  the  most  ill-tempered  of  all  feline 
animals — perpetually  snarling  and  growling,  and  seeking  to 
do  some  one  an  injury.  Naturalists  regard  it  as  of  the 
same  species  as  the  common  leopard,  (Felis  pardus},  despite 
the  fact  that  it  is  found  only  in  southeastern  Asia,  and 
both  in  appearance  and  disposition  is  totally  different 
from  the  typical  pardus.  With  but  few  exceptions,  the 
world's  supply  of  Black  Leopards  comes  from  Singapore. 

The  Cheetah,  or  Hunting  Leopard,  (Cynaelurus  jubatus), 
is  marked  by  its  long  legs,  slender  body,  small  head,  small 
spots,  and  claws  that  are  only  partially  retractile.  Its 
structure  suggests  that  of  the  dogs.  It  is  distributed  very 
irregularly  through  portions  of  Africa  and  southern  Asia, 
and  is  by  no  means  a  common  animal  like  the  leopard  and 
tiger. 

In  central  India,  this  animal  is  trained  to  hunt  the  sasin 
antelope,  a  form  of  sport  indulged  in  chiefly  by  native  ra- 
jahs. The  Cheetah  takes  kindly  to  captivity,  and  permits 
handling  to  an  extent  quite  unknown  with  other  large 
felines.  Its  keepers  place  the  animal  upon  an  open  cart, 
blindfold  it,  and  then  drive  to  within  200  yards  of  a  herd  of 
antelope.  At  the  point  of  nearest  possible  approach,  the 
hood  is  removed,  and  the  animal  is  set  free.  Leaping  to  the 
ground,  the  Cheetah  stalks  the  herd  of  antelope  as  closely  as 
possible,  then  makes  a  sudden  rush  forward,  and  endeavors 
to  seize  a  victim.  If  successful,  the  animal  is  pulled  down 
and  killed.  If  not,  the  Cheetah  sullenly  retires,  and  again 
places  itself  in  the  hands  of  its  friends. 

The  Snow  Leopard,  or  Ounce,  (Felis  undo],  is  the  rarest, 
and  also  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  all  the  large  felines. 
It  inhabits  the  high  plateau  of  central  Asia  from  the  Hima- 
layas to  the  Altai  Mountains  of  Mongolia,  above  9,000  feet. 
It  is  the  neighbor  of  the  Marco  Polo  sheep,  the  giant- 
horned  argali,  and  the  Siberian  ibex.  In  its  home  country, 
this  creature  is  sufficiently  numerous  that  2,000  tanned  skins 
sometimes  reach  Shanghai  in  a  single  year,  but  owing  to  its 
great  distance  from  railways  and  sea,  not  more  than  fifteen 
or  twenty  specimens  have  reached  the  zoological  gardens  of 
Europe  and  America.  Some  individuals  are  good-natured 
r,nd  playful,  but  others  are  morose. 


78  POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 

The  Puma,  or  Mountain  Lion,  (Felis  concolor),  is  the 
most  widely-known  feline  in  North  America.  At  present 
it  is  at  home  in  Florida,  Montana,  Wyoming,  Colorado, 
Texas,  and  all  the  states  westward  thereof.  Southward  it 
inhabits  Mexico  and  Central  America,  and  ranges  through 
South  America  quite  down  to  southern  Patagonia.  It  at- 
tains its  maximum  size  (8  feet  in  length,  weight  225  pounds) 
in  Colorado,  where  it  appears  to  be  more  numerous  than  in 
any  other  state.  In  Routt  County  it  is  hunted  very  success- 
fully with  dogs.  When  pursued,  it  is  compelled  to  take 
refuge  in  a  low  tree,  in  which  it  can  be  photographed  or  shot 
without  danger. 

Despite  the  numerous  thrilling  stories  that  have  been 
written  and  published  about  the  dangerous  doings  of  this 
animal,  it  is  by  no  means  really  dangerous  to  man.  No 
Puma  holding  an  option  on  a  safe  line  of  retreat  ever  stops 
to  fight  a  man. 

The  Puma  was  formed  for  agility  rather  than  strength. 
It  swims  well,  and  it  is  the  most  agile  climber  of  all  the 
large  felines.  The  head  of  this  animal  is  particularly  beau- 
tiful, and  its  temper  in  captivity  is  entirely  satisfactory. 
The  first  specimen  of  this  species  to  enter  the  Zoological 
Park  came  from  Peru,  as  a  gift  from  Mr.  Joseph  P.  Grace, 
and  during  the  years  1901  and  1902  it  lived  out  doors,  con- 
stantly, in  the  Puma  House  (No.  33A),  where  its  health  was 
excellent. 

THE  SEA-LIONS,  No.  12. 

Of  all  animals  which  find  permanent  homes  in  zoological 
gardens  and  parks,  very  few  afford  the  public  more  con- 
stant entertainment  than  Sea-Lions.  They  are  delightfully 
active,  and  in  one  way  or  another — diving,  swimming,  climb- 
ing or  hopping  about — are  nearly  always  "showing  off." 
No  one  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  their  pool  need  inquire 
where  they  are,  for  their  loud  and  cheerful  "Hook!  hook! 
hook,"  is  heard  far  and  wide,  and  draws  visitors  like  a 
magnet. 

The  Sea-Lion  Pool  is  situated  about  in  the  center  of  Baird 
Court. 

The  California  Sea-Lion,  or  "Barking  Sea-Lion,"  (Zalo- 
phus  calif ormanus) ,  is  the  species  most  easily  caught  alive, 
and  the  one  usually  seen  in  captivity.  Its  home  is  the  coast 
of  California,  but'  it  is  said  to  enter  the  Sacramento  River 
and  travel  upward  for  a  considerable  distance  in  pursuit  of 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


79 


ATLANTIC   WALRUS. 

spawning  salmon.  Comparatively  few  Sea-Lions  are  now 
found  on  the  mainland  coast  of  California.  On  the  United 
States  Light-House  reservations  their  slaughter  is  prohibited 
by  the  Light-House  Board. 

The  California  Sea-Lion  is  very  similar  in  size,  and,  leaving 
the  old  males  out  of  consideration,  it  is  almost  the  exact 
counterpart  in  form  of  that  apple  of  perpetual  international 
discord — the  Alaskan  "fur  seal."  The  unfortunate  fact  that 
the  latter  animal  has  become  known  as  a  "seal,"  has  caused 
much  confusion  in  people's  minds  regarding  the  classifica- 
tion of  pinnipeds  (fin-footed  animals)  generally.  For  this 
reason,  it  is  proper  to  observe  at  this  point  that : 

Sea-Lions  have  flat,  triangular,  naked  front  flippers, 
without  claws ;  they  have  long  necks,  and  carry  their  heads 
high.  There  are  nine  species,  of  which  the  so-called  "fur 
seal"  is  one. 

Seals  always  have  short  and  stubby  front  flippers, 
which  are  covered  with  hair,  and  provided  with  claws.  In 
most  species  the  hair  is  coarse  and  valueless.  The  seal  has 
a  very  short  neck  and  by  reason  of  the  weakness  of  its 
front  flippers,  it  is  not  nearly  so  active  nor  so  interesting 
as  the  sea-lion. 

The  Atlantic  Walrus  inhabits  the  arctic  regions  between 
America  and  Europe,  and  it  is  estimated  that  not  more  than 
ten  specimens  ever  have  been  exhibited  in  captivity.  Be- 
cause of  their  unusual  feeding  habits.  Walruses  are  very 


80 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


difficult  to  keep  alive.  Their  standard  food  is  clams;  and 
frequently  clams  are  very  difficult  to  obtain.  The  Atlantic 
Walrus  grows  to  great  size,  probably  exceeding  4,000 
pounds  in  weight.  The  specimen  exhibited  in  the  rocky 
pool  near  the  Reptile  House  was  presented  by  Mr.  Paul 
J.  Rainey,  in  1911,  and  has  thriven  continuously  ever  since 
its  arrival.  It  was  captured  in  Kane  Basin,  north  of  Baf- 
fin's Bay. 

The  Harbor  Seal,  (Phoca  vitulina),  is  the  species  common 
along  our  Atlantic  coast,  and  since  it  serves  so  well  as  a 
type  of  hair  seals,  or  true  seals,  it  will  occasionally  be 
shown  in  the  Park.  In  comparison  with  the  active  and 
vivacious  sea-lion,  it  is  a  tame  and  rather  uninteresting 
creature ;  but  neither  has  any  commercial  value,  save  for  the 
purposes  of  exhibition  when  alive. 

THE  PRIMATE  HOUSE,  No.  17. 

The  Primates  are  the  four-handed  animals  belonging  to 
the  zoological  order  called  by  that  name,  which  includes 
man,  the  anthropoid  apes  both  great  and  small,  the  baboons, 
monkeys  and  lemurs.  The  word  "monkey"  is  by  no  means 
sufficiently  comprehensive  to  embrace  all  these  forms. 
"Were  it  otherwise,  this  building  would  be  called,  officially, 
the  Monkey  House. 

The  Primates  include  the  creatures  which  stand  nearest  to 
man  in  the  zoological  scale,  and  in  interest  to  all  classes  of 
humanity  they  stand  above  all  others.  There  is  no  intelli- 
gent person,  civilized  or  savage,  to  whom  the  humanlikeness 
of  apes  and  monkeys  does  not  appeal.  On  the  other  hand, 
some  of  the  baboons  are  in  feature  and  temper  so  thoroughly 
beast-like,  their  diabolism  is  almost  as  fascinating  as  the 
man-like  character  of  the  great  apes.  The  variety  of  forms 
in  the  Order  Primates,  and  the  wide  differences  between  the 
various  groups,  imperatively  demand,  for  the  proper  rep- 
resentation of  this  Order,  a  large  collection. 

The  Primate  House  was  erected  in  1901,  at  a  cost  of 
$65,000,  and  opened  to  the  public  on  December  22d,  of  that 
year.  ,It  is  162  feet  in  length,  74  feet  in  width,  contains 
16  large  interior  cages,  22  small  cages,  and  11  exterior  cages, 
two  of  which  are  of  great  size.  The  points  of  special  ex- 
cellence in  this  building  are  as  follows:  An  abundance  of 
room  for  the  animals,  an  abundance  of  sunlight,  perfect 
ventilation,  an  extensive  series  of  open-air  cages,  freedom 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


81 


of  communication  between  outside  and  inside  cages,  floors 
and  walls  impervious  to  moisture  and  disease  germs,  and  the 
absence  of  iron  bars  from  all  cages  save  three. 

During  the  months  of  mild  weather,  all  the  inmates  of  the 
large  interior  cages  occupy,  at  will,  corresponding  cages 
in  the  outdoor  series.  It  is  also  intended  that  certain  hardy 
species  of  baboons,  and  the  red-faced  monkey  of  Japan, 
shall  be  provided  with  comfortable  sleeping  quarters  and 
live  outdoors,  every  winter.  It  is  believed  that  they  can 
do  this,  not  only  with  comfort,  but  with  great  physical 
benefit. 

For  general  convenience,  and  the  promotion  of  a  uni- 
versal understanding  of  the  primates,  we  propose  to  set 
them  forth  in  four  groups,  a  subdivision  strictly  according 
to  Nature,  readily  comprehended,  and  easily  remembered 
They  are  as  follows,  with  typical  examples  of  each : 

I.     ANTHROPOID    APES. 

Chimpanzee Anthropopithecus  calvus. .  .  of  Africa. 

Orang-Utan Simla  satyrus "    Borneo. 

Gray  Gibbon Hylobates  leuciscus "         " 

IT.     OLD   WORLD   MONKEYS  AND  BABOONS. 

Mona  Monkey Cercopithecus  mona 

White-Collared   Mangabey.  . .  .Cercocebus  collaris 

Magot:  Barbary  "Ape" Macacus  inuus 

Japanese  Red-Faced  Monkey. .  fuscatus 

Pig-Tailed  Monkey "          nemestrinus 

Rhesus  Monkey rhesus 

Entellus  Monkey "  entelhis 

Black  "Ape" Cynopit/hecus  niger 

Golden  Baboon Papio  babuin 

Hamadryas "      hamadryas 

Mandrill "      mormon 

Gelada Theropithecus  yelada 

III.     NEW  WORLD  MONKEYS. 

White-Throated  Sapajou Cebus  hypoleucus 

Red-Faced  Spider  Monkey. .  .  A  teles  paniscns T 

White-Headed  Saki Pithecia  leucocephala 

Yarkee:  Short-Tailed  Monkey.  Brachynrus  calva 

Squirrel  Monkey Chrysothrix  sciurea 

Common  Marmoset Hapale  jacchus 

Douroucoli Nyctipithecus  trivirgatus. . 

IV.     LEMURS   AND   LEMUHOIDS. 

Ring-Tailed  Lemur Lemur  catta 

Indri Indri  brevicaudata 

Galago Oalago  galago 

Slow  Lemur Nycticebus  tardigradus .  . . 

Aye- Aye Cheiromys  madagascariensis 


Africa. 

N.  Africa. 
Japan. 
E.  India. 
India. 

Celebes. 
N.  Africa. 
Arabia. 
W.  Africa. 
Abyssinia. 


S.  America. 


Madagascar. 

India. 

Madagascar. 

Madagascar. 

India. 


CHIMPANZEE    BALDY. 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  83 

Nearly  all  the  above-named  species  are  now  living  in  the 
Primate  House,  besides  which  there  are  many  others.  So 
far  as  the  available  supply  of  captive  primates  will  permit, 
these  typical  species  will  constantly  be  kept  on  exhibition, 
together  with  many  others  equally  interesting.  In  this 
small  volume  it  is  possible  to  notice  only  the  most  im- 
portant forms. 

The  Gorilla,  (Gorilla  savagei),  of  equatorial  West  Africa, 
is  the  largest  and  ugliest  of  the  great  apes,  walks  erect,  and 
in  form  of  body  and  limbs,  it  most  resembles  man.  Its 
brain,  however,  is  less  man-like  than  that  of  the  chimpanzee 
and  orang-utan.  It  is  very  rarely  seen  in  captivity.  The 
only  specimen  which  up  to  1911  had  reached  America  alive 
lived  but  five  days  after  its  arrival.  Despite  the  fact  that 
these  creatures  seldom  live  in  captivity  longer  than  a  few 
months,  they  are  always  being  sought  by  zoological  gardens. 
The  agents  of  the  New  York  Zoological  Society  are  con- 
stantly on  the  watch  for  an  opportunity  to  procure  and  send 
hither  a  good  specimen  of  this  wonderful  creature;  and 
whenever  one  arrives,  all  persons  interested  are  advised  to 
see  it  immediately, — before  it  dies  of  sulleness,  lack  of 
exercise,  and  indigestion. 

The  Orang-Utan  is  intellectually  superior  to  the  gorilla, 
and  is  equalled  only  by  the  chimpanzee.  Unfortunately,  as 
a  rule,  none  of  the  great  apes  are  long-lived  in  captivity, 
and  in  zoological  gardens  they  come  and  go.  For  this  rea- 
son, it  is  seldom  that  an  adult  specimen,  4  feet  in  height, 
and  weighing  150  pounds,  is  seen  in  captivity.  Among 
other  apes,  the  Orang-Utan  is  readily  recognized  uy  its 
brown  skin,  red  hair  and  small  ears. 

In  disposition  this  creature  is  naturally  docile  and  affec- 
tionate. It  is  fond  of  the  society  of  human  beings,  takes 
to  training  with  wonderful  readiness  and  success,  and  young 
specimens  can  easily  be  taught  to  wear  clothes,  sit  at  table, 
and  eat  with  spoon  and  fork.  In  the  summer  of  1911,  the 
daily  open-air  exhibition  of  nine  apes  dining  at  4  o'clock 
on  an  elevated  platform  in  the  large  outside  cage  at  the 
Primate  House,  will  long  be  remembered  by  the  crowds  of 
visitors  who  saw  it.  Such  exhibitions  are  entirely  germane 
to  the  educational  purposes  of  a  zoological  garden  or  park, 
for  they  illustrate  the  mentality  of  animals  and  their  won- 
derful likeness  to  man,  far  more  forcibly  than  the  best 
printed  statements. 

The  north  hall  of  the  Primate  House  is  specially  in- 
tended for  the  anthropoid  apes,  and  it  is  not  likely  that  any 


84 


POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


ORANG-UTAN. 

lengthy  periods  will  elapse  during  which  it  contains  neither 
orang-utans  nor  chimpanzees. 

The  Chimpanzee,  (Anthropopithecus  calvus],  of  equatorial 
Africa  from  the  west  coast  to  the  central  lake  region,  is 
quite  as  common  in  captivity  as  the  orang-utan.  Both 
structurally  and  mentally  this  animal  is  very  much  like  the 
orang-utan,  and  for  keenness  of  intellect  and  susceptibility 
to  training,  it  is  second  to  none  of  the  animals  lower  than 
man.  A  Chimpanzee  is  easily  recognized  by  its  black  hair 
and  large  ears.  There  are  two  or  three  species. 

The  Gibbon  shows  off  to  poor  advantage  in  a  cage,  but  in 
the  tree-tops  it  is  a  wonderful  creature.  It  is  like  a  long- 
armed  skeleton  clothed  with  skin  and  hair,  animated  by  the 
spirit  of  an  Ariel.  In  its  home  in  the  jungles  of  Borneo  and 
southeastern  Asia,  it  dwells  in  hilly  forests,  and  never 
descends  to  the  earth.  When  attacked,  it  flees  down-hill,  if 
possible,  and  it  seems  actually  to  fly  through  the  tree-tops. 
It  boldly  flings  itself  forward  through  space,  grasps  with  its 
hands  the  first  available  branch,  swings  underneath,  feet 
foremost,  and  after  another  flight  presently  catches  with 
its  feet,  thus  actually  making  revolutions  as  it  goes.  Its 
progress  is  so  swift  and  so  silent  that  successful  pursuit  is 
impossible  to  any  enemy  not  provided  with  wings. 

This  animal  is  naturally  very  timid,  but  does  not  hesitate 
to  expose  itself  to  mortal  danger  when  its  young  are  in 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


85 


HUMBOLDT    WOOLLY    MONKEY 

distress.     In  captivity  gibbons  are  shy  and  nervous,   and 
take  life  very  seriously. 

OLD-WORLD  MONKEYS. 

The  Baboons  have  been  specially  designed  by  Nature  for 
life  upon  the  ground,  surrounded  by  dangerous  enemies. 
But  for  their  big  canine  teeth,  their  fierce  tempers  and  bull- 
dog courage,  backed  by  a  fine  combination  of  strength 
and  agility,  the  lions,  leopards,  hyenas  and  jackals  of 
Africa  would  have  exterminated  them  all,  ages  ago.  They 
were  not  formed  to  become  hand-organ  beasts  of  burden, 
nor  even  companions  to  man,  but  rather  to  fight  off  their 
enemies,  and  bluff  even  the  king  of  beasts  when  occasion 
requires.  In  captivity,  their  strength  and  ferocity  always 
inspires  respect,  and  sometimes  genuine  terror.  At  all 
times  they  require  to  be  treated  as  dangerous  animals. 

Of  the  various  species  of  baboons  on  exhibition  in  the 
Primate  House,  the  full-grown  Mandrill  is  the  most  inter- 
esting, and  wonderful.  It  seems  like  an  animal  not  of  this 
earth,  and  reminds  the  visitor  of  one  of  the  great  beasts  of 
the  visions  of  St.  John  the  Divine.  The  home  of  this  species 
is  in  West  Africa,  and  it  is  found  from  Senegambia  to  the 
Congo.  The  long  shaggy  hair,  lion-like  appearance,  the 
peculiar  color  markings  of  the  face,  and  the  indescribable 
grimaces,  instantly  fix  the  attention  of  every  visitor. 


86  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

The  Hamadryas  Baboon,  with  long  side  whiskers  and 
cape  of  long  hair,  is  one  of  the  handsomest  animals  of  this 
group.  Its  explosive,  ear-racking  cry  is  almost  as  startling 
to  visitors  as  a  cannon-shot. 

The  Golden  Baboon  has  the  liveliest  disposition  and  the 
best  temper  possessed  by  any  baboon.  Young  specimens 
are  full  of  good-natured  mischief,  and  are  much  given  to 
hectoring  their  cage-mates.  The  Long-Armed  Yellow  Ba- 
boon is  quite  at  home  in  the  Primate  House,  and  has  bred 
here.  It  is  a  good  species  to  keep  in  captivity. 

The  Group  of  Old  World  Monkeys,  in  addition  to  the 
baboons,  contains  several  species  worthy  of  special  remark. 
There  are  some  which  have  tails  so  very  short  and  insig- 
nificant that  they  seem  to  be  tailless,  and  several  of  them 
are  called  "apes."  They  are  not  true  anthropoids  (man- 
like apes),  however,  and  it  is  a  confusing  error  to  designate 
any  of  them  as  "apes."  The  species  referred  to  are  the 
following : 

The  Black  "Ape,"  of  Celebes,  exceedingly  like  a  true 
baboon. 

The  Magot,  or  Barbary  "Ape,"  of  North  Africa  and  Gib- 
raltar, which  is  a  true  macaque. 

The  Japanese  Red-Faced  Monkey,  another  macaque,  with 
a  brilliant  red  face,  and  long,  thick  coat  of  hair,  which 
enables  it  to  live  out  of  doors  all  winter,  even  in  this 
Zoological  Park. 

The  Pig-Tailed  Monkey,  several  species  of  which  are 
found  in  Burma  and  other  portions  of  southeastern 
Asia. 

All  the  above  are  on  exhibition  in  the  Primate  House, 
and  the  outdoor  cages. 

The  Rhesus  Monkey,  of  India,  is  one  of  the  sacred  species, 
and  ages  of  immunity  from  molestation,  or  even  wholesome 
discipline,  have  made  this  animal  aggressive  and  domineer- 
ing in  temper. 

The  Bonneted  Macaque  is  the  best-tempered  monkey  of  all 
the  monkey  species  found  in  the  East  Indies,  and  it  is  by 
far  the  best  to  keep  as  a  pet. 

The  Entellus  Monkey,  of  India,  is  also  a  sacred  species, 
and  its  natural  seriousness  of  manner,  and  dignified  bearing, 
quite  befit  the  direct  descendants  of  the  original  Hunuman, 
or  monkey  deity  of  the  Hindoos,  who  helped  to  build  Adam  'a 
Bridge. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL   PARK.  87 

Of  the  many  African  monkeys,  some  of  the  most  showy 
(such  as  the  Guerzas  and  Colobos)  are  so  difficult  to  procure 
they  can  not  be  set  forth  as  permanent  residents  in  the 
Primate  House.  The  following  species,  however,  may  be 
classed  with  the  reliables : 

The  White-Collared  Mangabey  and  Sooty  Mangabey  are 
both  so  lively,  so  good-natured,  and  so  free  from  the  fight- 
ing habit,  they  are  prime  favorites  with  everybody. 

The  Mona  Monkey  is  handsome  and  easily  kept,  and  an 
excellent  representative  of  the  great  African  genus  Cerco- 
pithecus. 

The  Green  Monkey  and  the  Vervet  are  lively  but  quarrel- 
some, and  at  times  become  dangerous.  The  Patas,  or  Red 
Monkey,  is  very  sedate,  and  makes  a  good  cage-mate  for  the 
mona. 

The  New  World  Monkeys,  even  at  their  best,  never  make 
a  strong  showing  in  a  vivarium.  The  trouble  is  that  many 
of  the  most  interesting  species  are  so  delicate  it  is  impossible 
to  keep  them  alive  in  captivity.  Fame  awaits  the  man  who 
can  discover  a  bill  of  fare  on  which  Howling  Monkeys,  Sakis 
and  Yarkees  can  live  in  captivity  to  old  age,  and  repay  their 
cost  and  care.  Their  digestive  organs  are  delicate,  and  are 
subject  to  derangement  from  causes  so  slight  they  can  not 
be  reckoned  with. 

The  Sapajous  are  the  hardiest,  the  most  intelligent  and 
in  some  respects  the  most  interesting  of  the  New  "World 
monkeys.  They  all  possess  the  prehensile  (or  grasping) 
tail,  which  is  not  found  on  any  Old  World  monkey\  and  the 
use  made  of  it  is  a  constant  source  of  wonder.  Monkeys  of 
this  species  are  quite  common  in  captivity,  and  their 
wrinkled  brows  and  serious  countenances  give  them  an  ap- 
pearance of  being  burdened  with  cares, — which  most  cap- 
tive monkeys  certainly  are!  These  are  the  unfortunate 
creatures  which  so  often  come  to  grief  on  hand-organs. 

The  Black  Spider  Monkey  and  the  Gray  Spider  Monkey 
represent  a  genus  of  animals  quite  as  attenuated  in  form 
as  the  gibbons.  Their  slender  bodies,  exceedingly  long  and 
slender  legs  and  tail, — the  latter  strongly  prehensile,  and 
better  than  a  fifth  arm  and  hand, — give  them  when  in  the 
tree-tops  an  appearance  truly  spider-like.  They  are  agile 
climbers,  but  not  rapid  runners,  and  having  no  means  of 
defense  are  very  timid.  Their  stomachs  are  so  simple  they 
seem  to  lack  some  element  or  function  that  is  necessary  to 


88  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


JAPANESE  RED-FACED  MONKEY.  PIG- TAILED   MACAQUE. 

the  life  of  the  animal  in  captivity.  Notwithstanding  the 
fact  that  "Jess,"  of  Bath,  New  York,  in  defiance  of  all  laws 
and  precedents,  lived  thirteen  years  .in  a  cold  climate,  the 
great  majority  of  spider  monkeys  die  before  they  reach  full 
maturity,  and  nearly  always  of  stomach  troubles.  For- 
tunately, however,  there  are  exceptions  to  this  rule. 

The  Squirrel  Monkey,  often  called  a  "Marmoset,"  is  a 
pretty  little  olive-yellow  monkey,  almost  as  delicate  as  the 
true  Marmoset,  and  the  Pinche.  These  diminutive  crea- 
tures are  so  delicate  they  require  the  greatest  care  and  ten- 
derness, and  thrive  better  in  moderately  small  cages  than 
in  large  ones.  True  marmosets  are  the  smallest  of  American 
primates,  being  next  in  size  to  the  Tarsier,  of  Borneo,  small- 
est of  all  quadrumanes. 

The  Lemurs  and  Lemuroids. — A  lemur  is  a  monkey-like 
animal  belonging  to  the  lowest  group  of  primates,  but  in 
some  respects  is  so  little  like  a  typical  monkey  that  the  rela- 
tionship is  not  always  apparent.  There  are  about  thirty 
species,  and  all  save  a  very  few  are  found  on  the  Island  of 
Madagascar.  They  are  gentle-spirited,  harmless  and  in- 
offensive animals,  and  not  being  persecuted  by  their  human 
neighbors,  as  all  American  wild  animals  are,  they  are  quite 
numerous. 

Nearly  all  the  Lemurs  have  long  tails,  long  and  fine 
hair,  large  eyes  and  pointed  muzzles.  Many  of  them  are 
strikingly  colored  in  various  shades  of  black,  white  and 
gray.  All  Lemurs  are  supposed  to  be  of  nocturnal  habit,  and 
in  fact  they  really  are ;  but  the  specimens  in  the  large  jungle 
cage  of  the  Primate  House  are  quite  as  lively  and  interest- 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


89 


SLOW  LEMUR. 


SIAMANG. 


ing  in  the  daytime  as  most  of  the  monkeys.  So  far  from 
manifesting  a  disposition  to  retire  to  dark  corners,  they 
love  to  lie  in  the  sunshine. 

The  Ruffed  Lemur,  or  Black-and-White  Lemur,  (Lemur 
varia),  is  the  handsomest  member  of  this  entire  group. 
Its  fur  is  very  long,  silky,  and  alternately  pure  white  and 
jet  black.  The  Ring-Tailed  Lemur  has  a  very  long,  pointed 
tail,  ornamented  with  about  25  alternating  rings  of  brown 
and  gray,  which  it  carries  very  gracefully.  This  species 
is  of  a  more  lively  disposition  than  most  others.  The  cu- 
rious Indri  has  not  up  to  this  time  come  into  the  collection, 
but  it  is  expected  in  the  near  future.  When  it  arrives  it 
can  at  once  be  recognized  by  the  entire  absence  of  a  tail, 
except  a  mere  stump,  and  by  its  large  hands  and  feet. 

ELEPHANT   HOUSE,  Np.  20. 

Of  its  buildings  for  animals,  the  Elephant  House  is  the 
culminating  feature  of  the  Zoological  Park,  and  it  comes 
quite  near  to  being  the  last  of  the  series.  In  token  of  these 
facts,  it  is  fittingly  crowned  with  a  dome.  Through  its  posi- 
tion in  the  general  plan  it  closes  a  wide  gap,  and  effectively 
links  together  the  northern  and  southern  halves  of  the 
establishment. 

The  erection  of  this  great  structure  began  in  1907,  and  the 
building  was  completed  and  its  inmates  housed  in  the  fall 
of  1908.  The  yards  surrounding  the  structure  were  finished 
in  1909. 

Any  building  which  can  comfortably  accommodate  a  rep- 
resentative collection  of  the  largest  of  all  living  land  ani- 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  91 

mals,  must  unquestionably  be  large  and  substantial.  There 
is  no  pleasure  in  seeing  a  ponderous  elephant  chained  to 
the  floor  of  a  small  room,  unable  even  to  walk  to  and  fro, 
and  never  permitted  to  roam  at  will  in  the  open  air  and  sun- 
light. It  is  no  wonder  that  dungeon-kept  elephants  go  mad, 
and  do  mischief.  If  an  elephant — or  for  that  matter  any 
animal — cannot  be  kept  in  comfortable  captivity,  then  let  it 
not  be  kept  at  all. 

The  Elephant  House  of  the  City  of  New  York  is  a  large 
and  roomy  structure,  built  to  render  good  service  for  two 
centuries.  Its  extreme  length  over  all  is  170  feet,  and  its 
width  is  84  feet.  Its  two  sides  are  divided  into  8  huge 
compartments,  of  which  4  are  for  elephants,  2  for  rhinoc- 
eroses, and  2  for  hippopotami.  Each  of  these  is  24x21^ 
feet. 

The  Hippopotami  have  within  the  building  a  tank  24x21 
feet,  and  8  feet  in  total  depth;  and  another  will  be  con- 
structed in  their  corral. 

Each  end  of  the  building  furnishes  two  cages  of  smaller 
dimensions,  for  tapirs,  and  young  elephants.  The  whole 
area  surrounding  the  building,  excepting  the  axial  walk,  is 
devoted  to  open-air  yards,  so  arranged  that  each  cage  in  the 
interior  connects  directly  with  a  corral  which  affords  both 
sunshine  and  shade.  Nature  seems  to  have  made  this  beau- 
tiful open  grove — strangely  free  from  trees  in  its  center — 
especially  for  the  purposes  to  which  it  now  is  devoted. 

It  is  by  no  means  the  intention  of  the  Zoological  Society, 
that,  because  an  axial  walk  leads  through  the  Elephant 
House,  the  building  shall  be  used  as  a  thoroughfare  for  foot 
traffic  between  the  northern  and  southern  portions  of  the 
Park.  Such  use  would  surely  defeat  the  main  purpose  of 
the  structure.  It  is  intended  to  be  entered  only  by  persons 
who  desire  to  see  the  animals,  and  all  others  must  pass  around 
it,  by  one  or  the  other  of  the  two  very  direct  promenades 
which  will  be  provided.  The  employees  of  the  Park  are 
strictly  forbidden  to  consider  the  walk  through  the  build- 
ing as  a  convenient  highway,  and  visitors  are  requested  to 
observe  the  obvious  necessities  of  this  case. 

The  Indian  Elephant,  (Elephas  indicus),  is  the  universal 
elephant  of  captivity,  the  African  species  being  shown  only 
as  a  great  rarity.  For  every  elephant  that  comes  from 
Africa,  about  thirty  come  from  India,  and  of  those  about 
twenty-nine  are  prosy  and  unromantic  females.  In  order 
to  secure  a  male  Indian  Elephant,  it  must  be  specially 
ordered. 


92 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


INDIAN  ELEPHANT. 

Our  first  Indian  Elephant,  a  fine  male  named  "Gunda," 
was  caught  wild  in  the  interior  of  Assam,  northeastern  In- 
dia, and  he  arrived  at  the  Zoological  Park  in  May,  1904, 
as  the  gift  of  Col.  Oliver  H.  Payne.  He  was  then  about 
seven  years  old.  He  stood  6  feet  7  inches  in  shoulder 
height,  weighed  3,740  pounds,  and  had  all  the  points  of  a 
"high-caste"  elephant.  His  tusks  were  then  16  inches  long. 
He  is  very  mischievous  about  breaking  anything  in  his 
quarters  that  is  breakable,  and  he  manifests  special  dislike 
toward  certain  individuals  who  come  near  him.  Like  most 
Indian  elephants,  "Gunda"  is  very  intelligent.  In  two 
days  he  was  taught  to  receive  pennies,  lift  the  lid  of  his 
' '  bank, ' '  drop  the  coin  within,  and  ring  his  bell. 

Since  his  arrival  here,  in  May,  1904,  he  has  grown  in 
height  at  the  rate  of  about  5  inches  each  year.  On  Novem- 
ber 1,  1910,  he  stood  8  feet  9  inches  in  shoulder  height,  his 
weight  was  8100  pounds,  and  his  tusks  were  36  inches  long. 

The  Sudan  African  Elephant,  (Elephas  oxyotis,  Matschie), 
is  the  largest  of  the  four  species  of  African  elephants  now 
recognized.  The  other  species  are  the  South  African  Ele- 
phant, (E.  capensis),  the  German-East-African  Elephant, 
(E.  knochenhaueri),  and  the  West  African  Elephant,  (E. 
cyclotis] . 

After  some  years  of  waiting,  and  many  futile  efforts,  we 
have  at  last  come  into  possession  of  a  pair  of  young  Sudan 
Elephants,  representing,  so  we  believe,  the  great  species  to 


NEW    YORK     ZOOLOGICAL     PARK. 


93 


AFRICAN   ELEPHANTS. 

which  belonged  Jumbo,  and  also  the  bearer  of  the  enormous 
tusks  presented  to  the  Zoological  Society  by  Mr.  Charles  T. 
Barney.  Like  all  elephants  newly  arrived  from  Africa, 
they  are  young,  and  small;  but  if  they  have  good  health 
they  will  grow  very  rapidly,  and  about  A.  D.  1927  they 
should  attain  full  stature, — 11  feet  at  the  shoulders  for  the 
male,  or  thereabouts. 

The  different  species  of  elephants  are  most  easily  recog- 
nized by  their  ears.  Compare  the  enormous  "sail-area"  of 
the  ears  of  this  species  with  the  small,  triangular  ear  of  the 
Indian  elephant,  and  the  small,  round  ear  of  the  next  species. 

The  West  African  Elephant,  (Elephas  cyclotis),  of  equa- 
torial West  Africa,  especially  the  Congo  country,  is  appar- 
ently a  small  species,  not  exceeding  seven  feet  in  height, — 
even  if  that  height  is  ever  attained.  Mr.  Carl  Hagenbeck  re- 
ports that  out  of  nearly  300  pairs  of  tusks  of  this  species 
examined  by  him  in  the  German  ivory  market,  not  one  pair 
exceeded  two  feet  in  length,  and  many  measured  only  10 
inches. 

On  July  25,  1905,  we  received  a  male  specimen  represent- 
ing this  species,  as  a  gift  from  Mr.  Barney.  It  is  strikingly 
marked  by  its  small  round  ears,  and  the  presence  of  5  toes 
on  each  fore-foot  and  4  on  the  hind  foot,  the  number  in  the 
East  African  species  being  4  and  3,  respectively.  At  the 
time  of  its  arrival,  little  "Congo"  stood  43  inches  in  shoulder 
height,  his  weight  was  precisely  600  pounds,  and  his  tusks 


94  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


AFRICAN  TWO-HORNED   RHINOCEROS. 

were  4  inches  long.  On  June  1,  1911,  his  shoulder  height 
was  60  inches,  and  his  weight  was  1650  pounds,  and  his 
tusks  were  23  inches  long. 

Regarding  the  life  history  and  distribution  of  this  odd 
species,  much  remains  to  be  ascertained;  and  precise  in- 
formation is  greatly  desired. 

The  African  Two-Horned  Rhinoceros,  (Rhinoceros  bicor- 
nis),  is  already  represented  by  a  female  specimen  which  was 
acquired  in  1906.  "Victoria"  was  captured  in  July,  1905, 
in  the  northern  point  of  German  East  Africa,  within  about 
sixty  miles  of  the  head  of  Speke  Gulf,  which  is  the  south- 
eastern arm  of  Lake  Victoria  Nyanza.  The  elevation  is  be- 
tween 4,000  and  5,000  feet.  She  was  slung  under  a  pole,  and 
carried,  six  days'  journey  on  men's  shoulders,  to  the  shore 
of  the  lake. 

From  thence  she  was  transported  by  steamer  to  Port 
Florence,  at  the  head  of  the  Uganda  Railway,  thence  by 
rail  500  miles  to  Mombasa.  Ever  since  her  arrival  in  New 
York,  "Victoria"  has  developed  rapidly.  Captivity  does 
not  seem  to  fret  her  in  the  least.  She  is  very  docile,  is  very 
friendly  toward  her  keeper,  and  it  is  quite  apparent  that 
she  enjoys  herself. 

The  African  Two-Horned  Rhinoceros  once  was  very  abun- 
dant throughout  the  whole  of  the  fertile  plains  region  of 
east  and  south  Africa,  but  the  onslaughts  of  hunters  have 
exterminated  it  from  probably  nine-tenths  of  the  territory 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


95 


INDIAN  RHINOCEROS. 

that  it  once  occupied.  To-day,  the  Englishmen  of  Africa  are 
earnestly  endeavoring  to  regulate  and  abate  the  slaughter 
of  African  big  game,  and  beyond  doubt  safe,  good  results 
in  that  line  are  being  accomplished.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
the  protection  lines  will  now  be  drawn  so  tightly  around 
the  game  that  remains  that  it  will  be  perpetuated  for  cen- 
turies to  come. 

The  Indian  Rhinoceros,  (Rhinoceros  unicornis). — A  full- 
grown  Indian  Rhinoceros  is  one  of  the  most  wonderful  of  all 
living  animals.  It  seems  like  a  prehistoric  monster,  belong- 
ing to  the  days  of  the  dinosaurs,  rather  than  a  creature  of 
to-day ;  and  the  killing  of  so  grand  a  creature  solely  for  the 
sake  of  "sport,"  and  a  stuffed  head  to  hang  upon  a  wall,  is 
murder,  no  less.  It  is  quite  time  that  the  most  wonderful 
works  of  animated  Nature  should  universally  be  recognized 
as  safe  from  attack  with  the  rifle  and  knife. 

So  pronounced  is  the  rarity  of  the  great  Indian  Rhinoceros, 
it  is  a  fact  that  for  nearly  fifteen  years  no  living  specimens 
came  into  the  wild-animal  market.  At  last,  however,  the  per- 
sistence and  industry  of  the  renowned  Carl  Hagenbeck  was 
rewarded  by  the  capture,  in  1906,  of  four  young  specimens, 
all  of  which  reached  Hamburg  in  May,  1907.  One  of  the 
best  specimens  of  the  quartette  was  purchased  for  the  New 
York  Zoological  Park,  and  is  now  living  in  the  Park  in  the 
quarters  prepared  for  him  at  the  Elephant  House. 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


PYGMY   HIPPOPOTAMI. 


The  Indian  One-Horned  Rhinoceros  is  the  largest  of  all  liv- 
ing rhinoceroses.  A  full-grown  male  is  about  5  feet,  6  inches 
in  shoulder  height,  and  10  feet  6  inches  long  from  end  of 
nose  to  root  of  tail.  The  length  of  the  horn  is  not  great, 
rarely  exceeding  12  inches.  The  skin  is  very  thick,  and  lies 
upon  the  animal  in  great  rigid  slabs  which  are  divided  by 
Articulating  areas  of  thinner  skin. 

The  Hippopotamus,  (Hippopotamus  amphibius),  is  more 
frequently  seen  in  captivity  than  any  of  the  large  rhinoce- 
roses, or  the  African  elephant.  In  the  lakes  and  large  rivers 
of  central  East  Africa  it  still  exists  in  fair  numbers,  and 
still  is  killed  for' 'sport." 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  this  very  inert  and  usually  leth- 
argic monster  can,  under  what  it  deems  just  provocation, 
become  very  angry,  and  even  dangerous.  Four  years  ago, 
in  one  of  the  rivers  of  Uganda,  a  hippopotamus  not  only 
overturned  a  boat,  but  killed  one  of  its  native  occupants  by 
biting  him. 

The  Hippopotamus  breeds  readily  in  captivity,  even  under 
poor  conditions,  and  the  supply  for  the  zoological  gardens 
of  the  world  is  chiefly  maintained  in  that  way.  The  fine 
male  specimen  exhibited  in  the  Zoological  Park  was  pur- 
chased from  the  Central  Park  Menagerie,  for  $3,000,  and  is 
a  gift  from  Mr.  Samuel  Thorne.  He  was  born  on  July  13, 
1904.  His  weight  on  November  1,  1909,  at  five  years  of  age, 
was  3,114  pounds ;  and  he  is  growing  rapidly. 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  97 

The  Pygmy  Hippopotamus  (Hippopotamus  liberiensis) ,  is 
a  great  zoological  novelty,  and  second  in  rarity  only  to  the 
okapi.  Thus  far  only  five  specimens  ever  have  been  ex- 
hibited. An  adult  Pygmy  Hippo  is  only  one-fourteenth 
the  size  of  an  adult  Nile  Hippo.  Our  three  specimens,  a 
female  and  two  males,  are  exhibited  in  the  Elephant  House. 
They  arrived  in  1912,  and  were  captured  in  Liberia,  West 
Africa.  The  cost  price  of  the  trio  was  $15,000.  They  have 
excellent  appetites,  never  have  been  ill,  and  they  seem  to 
enjoy  their  new  home.  Their  habits,  capture,  and  their 
home  surroundings  have  been  fully  described  in  the  Bulletin 
(No.  52)  and  the  Annual  Report  for  1912  of  the  Zoological 
Society. 

The  Pygmy  Hippopotamus  is  far  more  widely  distributed 
throughout  Liberia  than  might  be  inferred  from  the  sur- 
prising scarcity  of  specimens  in  museums,  and  the  long  ab- 
sence of  the  species  from  zoological  gardens.  It  is  an  in- 
habitant of  swampy  forests,  and  while  it  frequents  rivers 
it  is  not  confined  to  them,  like  the  large  hippo.  It  seeks 
shelter  from  molestation  in  large  cavities  in  river  banks, 
usually  under  the  roots  of  overhanging  trees.  These  speci- 
mens were  caught  by  digging  pits  in  their  runways,  with 
sides  so  steep  that  the  captives  could  not  climb  out.  After 
capture,  each  animal  was  placed  in  a  huge  basket  crate, 
slung  under  a  pole,  and  carried  by  natives  over  the  rough 
forest  trails  to  the  nearest  river  transportation. 

The  Tapirs. — Near  the  end  of  the  Order  of  Hoofed  Ani- 
mals, (Ungulata),  is  found  the  Tapir  Family,  represented 
in  both  the  old  world  and  the  new,  by  about  five  species. 
These  very  odd  creatures  inhabit  the  densest  forests  of  the 
tropics,  where  vegetation  grows  rankly,  and  few  other  large 
hoofed  animals  can  live.  They  are  very  fond  of  water,  and 
swim  well. 

The  South  American  Tapir,  (Tapirus  terrestris},  takes 
kindly  to  captivity,  breeds  in  confinement,  and  always  man- 
ages to  look  well-fed  and  as  sleek  as  a  seal.  Its  color  is  a 
rich  mahogany  brown,  and  its  long,  prehensile  nose  is 
strongly  suggestive  of  the  end  of  an  elephant's  trunk.  The 
shoulder  height  of  a  full-grown  animal  is  about  37  inches. 
This  species  inhabits  Venezuela,  the  Guianas,  Brazil,  Para- 
guay, Uruguay  and  some  other  regions  of  South  America. 
Some  of  the  Central  American  Tapirs  inhabit  mountain  re- 
gions, but  all  are  exceedingly  wary,  and  difficult  to  find 
without  dogs. 


98  POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 

The  Malay  Tapir,  (Tapirus  indicus,)  of  the  Malay  Penin- 
sula and  Sumatra,  may  be  recognized  as  far  as  it  can  be  seen, 
by  its  colors.  The  front  half  of  the  animal,  and  its  legs, 
are  black  or  dark  brown,  and  the  rear  half  of  the  body  is 
white.  It  is  much  larger  than  the  preceding  species. 


THE  WOLF  DENS,  No.  22. 

At  the  northeastern  corner  of  the  Elk  Range  there  is  a 
huge,  bare  granite  rock,  two  hundred  feet  long,  shaped  pre- 
cisely like  the  hump  of  a  bull  buffalo.  The  high  end  of  the 
hump  is  toward  the  north,  and  its  crest  is  about  fifteen  feet 
above  the  ground  on  its  eastern  side.  A  fringe  of  small 
trees  and  bushes  grows  along  its  western  side.  On  the  east 
side,  well  sheltered  by  the  rock  itself  from  the  cold  -west 
winds  of  winter,  and  also  shaded  by  several  fine  trees  which 
most  opportunely  grow  close  beside  the  ledge,  the  Wolf 
Dens  and  Fox  Dens  are  situated. 

In  regard  to  the  iron  work,  these  dens  are  merely  an 
understudy  of  the  Bear  Dens.  The  dimensions  of  each  den 
of  the  series  are  16  by  48  feet,  and  the  height  of  the  bars  to 
the  top  of  the  overhang  is  9  feet  6  inches.  The  sleeping 
dens  are  of  simple  construction,  all  save  one  being  of  wood, 
trimmed  with  bark-covered  slabs.  At  present  the  Wolf 
Dens  are  divided  into  four  compartments. 

The  Gray  Wolf,  (Canis  nubilis),  is  known  by  as  many 
names  as  it  has  color  phases.  In  the  North,  where  it  is 
white,  it  is  called  the  "White  Wolf,"  while  in  Florida  it 
becomes  the  "Black  Wolf."  In  British  Columbia  and 
around  Great  Slave  Lake,  both  white  and  black  wolves 
abound,  as  well  as  the  standard  gray,  but  on  the  Barren 
Grounds  the  white  phase  predominates.  In  Texas  a  "Bed 
Wolf"  is  found,  but  apparently  the  red  phase  is  of  some- 
what rare  occurrence,  and  is  never  found  in  the  North. 

In  the  West  this  animal  has  recently  come  into  promi- 
nence in  a  way  that  is  striking  terror  to  the  hearts  of 
ranchmen  and  others  who  have  stock  to  lose.  While  all 
kinds  of  desirable  game  animals  are  decreasing  at  an  alarm- 
ing rate,  the  Gray  Wolf  not  only  holds  its  own,  but  is 
multiplying  rapidly.  The  destruction  by  it  of  calves,  colts 
and  sheep,  has  become  so  great  that  nearly  every  western 
State  has  placed  on  the  head  of  this  bold  marauder  a 
bounty  varying  from  $2  to  $10.  In  some  States  this  law 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


99 


TIMBER  WOLF. 

has  been  in  force  for  several  years,  but  with  no  sensible 
diminution  in  the  number  of  wolves. 

The  Gray  Wolves  which  live  in  touch  with  civilization 
are  by  no  means  such  bold  and  dangerous  animals  as  they 
formerly  were.  In  the  early  days,  when  wolves  were 
numerous  and  fire-arms  few  and  primitive,  the  Gray  Wolf 
undoubtedly  was  a  dangerous  animal.  But  the  breech- 
loading  rifle  has  changed  all  this.  Excepting  for  his  stock- 
killing  propensities,  the  Gray  Wolf  is  now  a  skulking  crea- 
ture. In  the  United  States  this  animal  possesses  the  cour- 
age of  a  coyote,  but  in  the  Barren  Grounds  it  is  still  fierce 
and  dangerous.  However  much  the  wolf  may  skulk  and 
flee  when  the  way  is  open,  when  brought  to  bay  he  knows 
how  to  fight.  One  snap  of  his  powerful  jaws  and  shear-like 
teeth  is  enough  to  disable  almost  any  dog,  and  send  it 
howling  to  the  rear.  It  is  no  wonder  that  western  dogs 
of  experience  are  shy  of  approaching  a  Gray  Wolf  within 
snapping  distance. 

Excepting  the  localities  from  which  it  has  been  driven 
out  by  civilization,  the  Gray  Wolf  ranges  over  the  whole 
North  American  continent  from  central  Mexico  to  83°  24'  N. 

The  Coyote,  or  Prairie  Wolf,  (Canis  latrans),  is  a  personal 
acquaintance  of  nearly  every  trans-continental  traveler. 
To  those  who  have  camped  on  the  "plains,"  he  is  quite  like 


100 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


COYOTE:   PRAIRIE  WOLF. 

an  old  friend;  and  the  high-pitched,  staccato  cry — half 
howl  and  half  bark — with  which  he  announces  the  dawn, 
is  associated  with  memories  of  vast  stretches  of  open  coun- 
try, magnificent  distances,  sage-brush  and  freedom.  Be- 
cause of  his  fondness  of  barking,  Thomas  Say,  the  natural- 
ist who  first  described  this  species,  christened  it,  Canis 
latrans,  which  means  "barking  wolf." 

This  animal  averages  about  one-third  smaller  than  the 
gray  wolf,  and  while  the  finest  male  specimens  are,  in  the 
autumn,  really  handsome  animals,  at  other  times  the  major- 
ity are  of  very  ordinary  appearance.  At  no  time,  however, 
even  in  the  dark,  is  a  Coyote  a  courageous  animal.  So  far 
as  man  is  concerned,  a  band  of  a  thousand  coyotes  would 
be  as  easily  put  to  flight  as  one;  but  in  hanging  upon  the 
ragged  edges  of  civilization,  and  living  by  its  wits,  the 
Coyote  is  audacity  itself.  By  inheritance,  and  also  by  per- 
sonal experience,  this  animal  knows  to  a  rod  how  far  it 
is  safe  to  trust  a  man  with  a  gun.  If  the  hunter  has  left 
his  gun  behind  him,  the  Coyote  knows  it  at  once,  and 
boldly  flaunts  himself  within  stone's  throw  of  his  enemy. 

The  Coyote  varies  in  color  quite  markedly,  exhibiting  the 
gray,  brown  and  black  phases.  Formerly  it  was  supposed 
that  one  species  comprehended  all,  but  Dr.  Merriam's  series 
of  specimens  from  all  parts  of  the  West  and  Southwest 
have  led  him  to  separate  these  animals  into  eleven  species. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  101 

THE   FOX   DENS,  No.  23. 

Of  the  many  species  of  foxes  found  in  North  America, 
three  species  stand  forth  as  the  types  of  prominent  groups, 
and  it  is  very  desirable  that  all  three  should  be  well  known. 

The  Red  Fox,  ( Vulpes  fulvus) ,  is  the  representative  of  the 
group  which  contains  also  the  cross  fox  and  black  fox  of 
the  Northwest.  In  spite  of  dogs,  traps,  guns,  spades  and 
poison,  this  cunning  creature  persists  in  living  in  close 
touch  with  the  poultry  yards  of  civilized  man.  His  perfect 
familiarity  with  old-fashioned  dangers  enables  him  to 
avoid  them  all,  and  no  sooner  does  a  new  danger  menace 
him  than  he  promptly  invents  a  way  to  escape  it.  The 
manner  in  which  the  Red  Fox  lives  with  civilization  with- 
out being  exterminted  really  is  surprising,  and  speaks 
volumes  for  the  astuteness  of  this  animal. 

The  geographical  range  of  the  Red  Fox  is  very  wide, 
From  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee  it  extends  northward 
through  the  whole  northeastern  United  States,  gradually 
bearing  westward  to  Montana,  and  northward  almost  to 
the  Arctic  Ocean.  It  is  the  commonest  species  in  Alaska, 
where  it  is  found  practically  everywhere. 

The  typical  Red  Fox  and  its  two  subspecies,  the  Cross  Fox, 
(Vulpes  fulvus  decussatus),  and  the  Black  Fox,  (V.  f.  argen' 
tatus] — the  latter  many  times  miscalled  the  "Silver  Fox"- 
vary  in  all  possible  gradations  of  color  from  bright  red  to 
pure  black.  Often  it  is  difficult  to  decide  where  one  type 
leaves  off  and  another  begins.  The  Cross  Fox  stands  mid- 
way between  the  Red  and  Black,  with  some  of  the  yellow 
color  of  the  former  on  the  sides  of  the  neck  and  behind 
the  foreleg,  while  the  remainder  of  the  general  color  is 
grizzled  gray-brown  laid  across  his  shoulders  in  a  more  or 
less  distinct  cross.  The  Black  Fox  varies  in  color  from 
very  dark  iron-gray  to  dark  brown  or  black,  with  a  slight 
wash  of  white-tipped  hairs  over  the  head,  body  and  tail. 
The  tip  of  the  tail  is  always  white,  which  is  the  only  con- 
stant color  mark  about  him. 

The  Swift,  or  Kit  Fox,  (Vulpes  velox},  is  the  daintiest, 
smallest  and  liveliest  of  all  American  foxes.  From  his 
delicate  little  nose  to  the  tip  of  his  well-trimmed  tail,  he 
is  every  inch  a  thoroughbred.  His  countenance  is  bright 
and  pert,  and  when  several  specimens  are  kept  together 
they  are  very  playful.  One  striking  feature  of  this  little 
animal  is  what  may  well  be  termed  its  trimness.  "When  in 


102 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


SWIFT  OR  KIT  FOX. 

fair  condition,  its  coat  of  thick,  silvery  gray  fur  is  as  smooth 
and  even  as  if  recently  trimmed  by  a  barber. 

On  the  western  plains,  where  it  once  had  for  companions 
the  buffalo  and  prong-horn,  the  Swift  is  becoming  rare.  Its 
worst  enemy  is  the  deadly  strychnine  bottle  of  the  ranch- 
man. This  species  does  not  thrive  in  the  Fox  Dens,  and  it 
will  be  found  in  the  Burrowing  Animal 's  Quarters,  where  it 
seems  pleased  to  consider  itself  at  home. 

In  the  Small-Mammal  House  is  shown  a  new  species, 
closely  allied  to  the  above,  from  Phoenix,  Arizona,  recently 
described  by  Dr.  C.  H.  Merriam  as  Vulpes  macrotis,  or  the 
Large-Eared  Swift. 

The  Gray  Fox,  (Urocyon  virginianus),  is  the  fox  of  the 
South,  even  though  it  does  range  northward  well  into  the 
territory  of  the  red  fox.  This  species  is  distinctly  smaller 
and  more  lightly  built  than  the  red,  its  hair  is  not  so  luxu- 
riant, it  is  more  shy  and  retiring,  and  its  colors  change  very 
little.  When  hotly  pursued  by  dogs  it  often  climbs  trees 
that  are  quite  perpendicular,  to  a  height  of  twenty  feet  or 
more.  In  captivity  Gray  Foxes  are  forever  trying  to  escape 
by  climbing,  instead  "of  by  burrowing,  as  would  naturally 
be  expected.  In  temper,  they  are  treacherous  to  their 
keepers,  and  also  to  each  other,  and  as  "pets"  are  anything 
but  desirable. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


103 


RED   FOX. 

The  Tasmanian  Wolf,  or  Thylacine,  (Thylacinus  cyn-o- 
cephalus},  is  a  very  strange-looking  and  interesting  creature, 
about  the  size  of  a  pointer  dog.  Its  color  is  dark  yellowish 
brown,  and  it  has  a  series  of  broad  black  stripes,  or  bands, 
running  across  its  hind  quarters  and  loins.  The  wide  gape 
of  its  mouth  reminds  one  of  an  iguana  or  a  monitor. 

This  animal,  fully  named  above,  is  the  largest  of  the  car- 
nivorous marsupials  of  Australia,  and  the  female  possesses 
an  abdominal  pouch  in  which  she  carries  her  young,  like 
a  kangaroo.  It  is  now  found  only  in  Tasmania,  and  it  dwells 
amongst  rocks,  in  rugged  and  mountainous  regions.  Be- 
cause of  its  depredations  upon  the  sheep  herds,  the  Thyla- 
cine has  been  diligently  hunted  and  destroyed,  and  now 
living  specimens  rarely  are  taken. 

In  the  zoological  gardens  of  Europe  and  America,  this 
species  usually  is  kept  in  heated  buildings,  but  it  has  been 
ascertained  by  experiment  that  this  specimen  thrives  best 
in  the  open  air.  Living  examples  in  captivity  are  now  so 
very  rare  it  is  a  difficult  matter  to  keep  one  constantly  on 
exhibition. 

THE    OTTER  POOLS,  No.  31. 

The  American  Otter,  (Lutra  canadensis),  is  unfortunate 
in  being  the  bearer  of  valuable  fur;  and  in  the  northern 
regions,  where  the  cold  causes  the  development  of  fur  that 


]04  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

is  available  for  the  use  of  the  furrier,  this  creature  is  so 
nearly  extinct  that  trappers  no  longer  pursue  it.  In  the 
southern  States,  where  its  fur  is  short,  rather  coarse  and 
"off  color,"  the  Otter  still  is  found.  In  some  portions  of 
eastern  Florida,  and  along  the  coast  of  South  Carolina,  it 
is  frequently  taken.  In  captivity,  it  often  becomes  ^quite 
tame,  even  .  affectionate,  and  always  is  interesting.  Unless 
closely  confined,  however,  it  is  prone  to  wander,  and  meet 
premature  death. 

In  captivity  the  Otter  usually  is  active  and  restless,  and 
very  much  in  evidence.  Owing  to  the  strength  of  its  jaws, 
its  ability  to  climb  under  certain  conditions  and  its  restless 
activity,  it  is  difficult  to  confine  a  full-grown  Otter  in  any- 
thing else  than  a  complete  box  of  iron  cage-work. 

Few  persons  save  woodsmen  and  naturalists  are  aware  of 
the  fact  that  in  a  wild  state  the  Otter  is  a  very  playful  ani- 
mal, and  is  as  fond  of  sliding  down  hill,  over  a  wet  and 
muddy  slide,  with  a  water  plunge  at  the  bottom,  as  any 
young  person  is  of  "shooting  the  chutes."  Like  the  small 
boy  with  the  sled  and  a  snowy  hillside,  the  Otter  sometimes 
indulges  in  its  sliding  pastime  for  an  hour  at  a  time,  with 
a  keen  relish  for  the  sport  that  is  quite  evident  to  all  who 
have  ever  watched  it. 

The  Otter  is  a  carnivorous  animal,  and  in  a  wild  state 
lives  upon  fish,  frogs,  crabs,  young  birds,  small  mammals, 
and,  in  fact,  about  any  living  thing  which  it  can  catch. 

The  Coypu  Rat,  (Myopotamus  coypn),  of  Central  and 
South  America,  is  interesting  because  of  the  fact  that  it  is 
the  largest  of  all  rats  or  rat-like  animals.  In  its  habits  it 
is  as  fond  of  water  as  the  musk-rat.  It  is  sufficiently  clothed 
with  fur  to  endure  outdoor  life  in  the  Park,  even  in  winter, 
and  it  has  been  acclimatized  here  in  one  of  the  other  pools. 
It  breeds  persistently,  and  thrives  in  captivity,  provided  it 
is  treated  as  it  should  be. 


THE   SMALL-MAMMAL   HOUSE,  No.  35. 

The  new  Small-Mammal  House,  erected  and  occupied  in 
1905,  is  a  very  different  structure  from  the  temporary  build- 
ing which  formerly  occupied  the  site.  The  present  building 
is  a  twin  of  the  Ostrich  House,  and  in  it  much  effort  has 
been  expended  in  devising  ways  and  means  to  keep  its  liv- 
ing inhabitants  clean,  odorless  and  in  good  health.  Owing, 
however,  to  the  musky  odors  secreted  by  many  of  the  civet 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  105 

cats  and  members  of  the  Marten  Family,  it  is  beyond  human 
power  to  keep  a  large  collection  such  as  this  building  con- 
tains without  a  certain  amount  of  wild-animal  odor. 

Most  difficult  of  all  collections  to  settle  satisfactorily  in  a 
modern  zoological  park  or  garden  is  the  great  omnium 
gatherum  of  small  species — and  some  large  ones,  also — which 
fall  within  the  meaning  of  the  term  "small  mammals." 
The  number  of  mammalian  miscellanea  which  can  not  have 
buildings  all  their  own  is  really  very  great.  In  addition  to 
that  there  are  always  with  us  a  considerable  number  of 
young  and  tender  animals  which  require  small  quarters,  and 
close  attention.  The  visitor  will  therefore  always  find  in 
the  Small-Mammal  House  a  great  array  of  viverrine  ani- 
mals, of  tropical  squirrels  and  other  small  rodents,  of  muste- 
lines, the  nasuas,  the  small  marsupials,  young  leopards,  the 
lynxes  and  their  relatives,  baby  bears,  and  many  other 
species. 

Attention  is  invited  to  the  great  variety  of  cages  in  and 
around  this  building,  of  which  there  are  five  different  types. 
The  total  number  is  176.  All  those  on  the  western  side  are 
adjustable  as  to  their  bottoms  and  sides,  so  that  it  is  easy 
to  throw  several  cages  into  one,  and  make  cages  either 
very  long  or  very  high.  The  idea  of  the  collapsible  cage, 
and  also  the  general  plan  of  it,  has  been  copied  from  the 
model  developed  and  in  use  in  the  Zoological  Garden  of 
Frankfort,  Germany,  by  Director  A.  Seitz,  to  whom  this 
acknowledgment  is  justly  due.  It  will  be  noticed  that 
every  animal  in  this  building  enjoys  the  use  of  an  outdoor 
cage,  which  connects  directly  with  its  interior  quarters. 

Of  such  an  odd  mixture  of  animals  as  we  are  now  to  con- 
sider, anything  like  a  perfect  systematic  zoological  arrange- 
ment is  a  practical  impossibility ;  but  as  far  as  it  is  possible, 
we  will  take  up  the  animals  by  groups. 

On  the  whole,  the  most  striking  animals  in  the  Small- 
Mammal  House  are  the  small  cats  and  lynxes.  Of  the 
spotted  cats,  the  Serval,  (Felis  serval),  of  Africa,  is  one  of 
the  rarest.  Its  long,  slender  legs,  small  head,  slender  body 
and  round  spots  proclaim  it  a  near  relative  of  the  cheetah. 

The  Clouded  Leopard,  (Felis  nebulosa). — The  dense  and 
humid  jungles  of  Borneo  contain  a  beautiful  tree-climbing 
leopard  whose  markings  are  laid  on  its  sides  in  large,  el- 
liptical patches  of  pleasing  pattern.  This  is  the  Clouded 
Leopard,  so  delicate  in  captivity  that  only  one  out  of  every 
four  or  five  becomes  acclimatized  outside  its  native  jungles. 


106 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


OCELOT. 

Our  fine  adult  specimen,  with  very  long  canine  teeth  sug- 
gestive of  those  of  the  saber-toothed  tiger,  really  belongs 
in  the  Lion  House,  but  we  dare  not  move  it,  for  fear  the 
change  would  in  some  manner  prove  fatal  to  it.  It  is  an 
animal  of  vicious  temper,  and  makes  friends  with  no  one. 
The  half  light  of  its  cage  is  a  welcome  approach  to  the 
dense  shadows  in  which  it  lives  when  at  home. 

The  Jungle  Cat,  (F.  bengalensis),  is  a  small  and  incon- 
spicuous type,  as  befits  an  animal  which  lives  by  stealth  in 
densely  populated  regions.  The  Ocelot,  (Felis  pardalis),  of 
South  and  Central  America,  is"  a  small  spotted  cat  which 
very  often  is  called  a  "young  jaguar."  In  size  it  is  the 
third  largest  Felis  of  the  American  continent ;  but  for  all 
that,  it  is  so  small  that  an  adult  specimen  would  not  make 
more  than  one  square  meal  for  a  hungry  jaguar.  It  is 
found  from  southern  Texas  to  southern  Brazil. 

The  little  Margay  Cat,  (F.  tigrina],  is  our  smallest  and 
also  rarest  spotted  cat.  It  is  no  larger  than  a  good-sized 
domestic  cat,  and  its  tawny  ground-color  is  marked  all  over 
with  round  spots.  The  rarest  American  feline  in  our  pos- 
session is  the  queer,  otter-like  Yaguarundi  Cat,  (F.  yagua- 
rundi),  of  a  uniform  gray-brown  color,  without  spots.  It 
is  found  in  southern  Texas  and  Mexico,  and  is  so  seldom 
seen  in  captivity  that  comparatively  few  persons  north  of 
the  Rio  Grande  are  aware  of  its  existence.  Our  specimen 
came  from  Brownsville,  Texas. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


107 


COMMON  GENET. 

The  Bay  Lynx,  Red  Lynx,  or  Wild  Cat,  (Lynx  nifus),  is 
the  smallest  of  American  Lynxes,  and  it  is  the  one  that  in- 
habits the  United  States  eastward  of  the  great  plains.  Until 
further  notice,  this  species  will  be  found  in  the  Small-Mam- 
mal House.  It  may  have  a  few  dark  spots,  or  none  at  all. 
Its  color  varies  so  greatly  that  it  is  at  times  impossible  to 
determine  where  this  species  leaves  off,  and  the  more  heavily 
spotted  subspecies  of  the  southwest  takes  its  place.  The 
latter  is  known  as  the  Spotted  Lynx,  (L.  r.  maculatus} . 

The  large  and  important  group  of  Viverrines,  or  long- 
faced  cat-like  carnivores  of  the  East  Indies,  (Family  Viver- 
ridae),  is  well  represented.  It  is  the  true  Civets  which  fur- 
nish— some  of  them — the  evil-smelling  civet  of  commerce — 
an  odor  which  we  would  gladly  do  without.  The  Common 
Civet-Cat,  (Viverra  zibetha),  is  the  best  known  member  of 
this  Family,  and  it  is  easily  recognized  by  its  large  size, 
heavily-spotted  body  and  ring-streaked  tail.  It  is  common 
throughout  the  Malay  Peninsula,  and  in  many  other  portions 
of  the  Malay  Archipelago.  The  larger  Malayan  Civet-Cat, 
(V .  malaccensis),  strongly  resembles  its  understudy,  but  its 
black  spots  and  blotches  are  larger  and  more  intense,  and  in 
form  it  is  much  more  robust. 

The  large  and  handsome  White-Whiskered  Paradoxure, 
(Parado.rums  Icnconiysta.r),  has  been  in  the  Park  about  six 
years,  and  to-day  it  coughs  and  snarls  at  the  visitor  just  as 
it  did  in  the  beginning.  It  is  a  smooth-coated  creature, 


108  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

colored  like  a  puma,  and  comes  from  northern  China.  Other 
members  of  the  Family  Vvuerridae  contained  in  the  collection 
are  the  Malayan  Paradoxure,  (P.  hcrmaphrodittts) ;  the  Black 
Paradoxure,  (P.  niger) ;  the  African  Ichneumon,  (Hcrpcstes 
ichneumon],  the  strange  black  creature  from  the  Malay  Pe- 
ninsula called  the  Binturong,  or  "Bear-Cat,"  (Arctictis  bin- 
turong),  and  the  Suricate,  or  Slender-Tailed  Meerkat,  (Siiri- 
cata  tetradactyla} ,  of  South  Africa. 

Into  the  Small-Mammal  House  have  drifted  and  comfort- 
ably settled  down  several  canine  species  which  are  not  so 
well  satisfied,  elsewhere.  The  Black-Backed  Jackal,  (Cams 
mesomelas),  of  Africa,  is  one  of  the  most  interesting,  and  it 
is  also  the  one  that  thrives  best  in  captivity.  It  is  very 
much  like  a  dark  phase  of  the  Azara  Dog,  of  South  America, 
and  it  is  the  handsomest  of  all  the  Jackals.  The  Cape  Hunt- 
ing Dog,  of  eastern  Africa,  has  for  years  been  present  in 
this  building,  and  it  will  be  kept  as  continuously  as  circum- 
stances will  permit. 

The  New  Mexico  Desert  Fox,  (Vulpes  macrotis  neomexi- 
canus),'is  a  small  understudy  of  the  better  known  Swift  or 
Kit  Fox  of  the  northern  plains,  but  it  has  larger  ears. 
Neither  of  these  delicate  little  species  seems  to  thrive  in  our 
large  Fox  Dens,  which  seem  to  be  too  large  for  them ;  but 
in  this  building  they  thrive  and  are  quite  content  with  life. 
The  Swift  Fox  is  the  four-footed  elf  of  the  plains,  and  it 
is  unfortunate  that  the  poison  laid  for  the  fierce  and  cruel 
stock-killing  wolves  should  prove  its  extermination — as  it 
surely  will,  ere  long. 

The  Arctic  Fox,  (Vulpes  lagopus). — This  creature  of  the 
polar  world  is  a  striking  example  of  climatic  influence  on 
a  species,  and  also  of  the  danger  that  lies  in  describing  a 
species  from  a  single  specimen.  In  the  far  north,  the 
Arctic  Fox  is  snow-white  all  the  year  round.  Farther  south 
it  is  white  in  winter,  but  in  summer  is  bluish-brown.  In  the 
southern  part  of  its  range,  the  Aleutian  Archipelago  for 
example,  except  for  an  occasional  white  individual,  it  is 
dark  all  the  year  round,  and  is  known  only  as  the  Blue 
Fox.  At  first  it  may  seem  difficult  to  believe  that  these  two 
widely-different  extremes  are  only  color-phases  of  the  same 
species;  but  it  is  quite  true.  The  dark-colored  animal  is 
not  even  accorded  subspecific  rank. 

On  various  islands  along  the  Alaska  coast,  especially  in 
the  Aleutian  Archipelago,  about  forty  commercial  companies 
are  engaged  in  breeding  Blue  Foxes  for  their  fur.  some  of 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  109 

them  with  satisfactory  success.  The  foxes  are  fed  daily, 
on  cooked  corn  meal  and  dried  fish.  They  come  up  to  be 
fed,  and  when  the  time  comes  to  handle  and  sort  them 
previous  to  killing  the  annual  allotment,  they  greatly  facil- 
itate matters  by  the  readiness  with  which  they  enter  box 
traps. 

The  great  decrease  in  the  annual  supply  of  good  fur 
has  caused  many  persons  to  hope  that  fox-breeding  may 
be  developed  into  a  remunerative  industry.  Except  in 
Alaska,  no  extensive  experiments  in  that  line  have  been 
made.  It  is  quite  desirable  that  fox-breeding  in  the  United 
States  should  be  taken  up  under  state  or  national  auspices, 
and  worked  out  to  a  successful  issue.  There  is  good  reason 
to  hope  and  believe  that  it  might  be  developed  into  an  im- 
portant industry. 

From  Argentina,  South  America,  have  come  two  fine 
specimens  of  the  Azara  Dog,  (Canis  azarac],  which,  but  for 
their  half  dog-like  tails  might  pass  anywhere  as  rather  odd- 
looking  gray  foxes.  But  they  are  a  visible  reminder  of  the 
fact  that  the  pampas  of  South  America  contain  an  extensive 
series  of  foxes  and  wild  dogs,  which  thus  far  is  practically 
unknown  everywhere  north  of  the  Amazon. 

The  Dingo,  or  Australian  Wild  Dog,  (Canis  dingo],  is 
represented  by  two  specimens  which  look  like  ordinary 
yellow  dogs.  By  many  persons  it  is  believed  that  this  ani- 
mal was  not  indigenous  to  Australia,  and  was  planted  there 
by  man,  but  the  evidence  in  support  of  that  supposition  is 
by  no  means  conclusive. 

The  Coati-Mundi,  (pronounced  coy-ty  mon-day),  is  for 
its  size  one  of  the  best  exhibition  animals  that  can  be  found 
outside  of  the  Primate  House.  It  is  closely  related  to  our 
raccoon,  but  is  far  more  showy  and  interesting.  It  has  a 
very  lively  and  industrious  disposition,  is  a  good  climber, 
and  from  dawn  until  dark  is  almost  constantly  on  the  move. 
Although  it  is  a  carnivorous  animal,  and  provided  with 
powerful  canine  teeth,  it  is  not  naturally  quarrelsome,  but 
on  the  contrary  is  quite  gregarious  in  its  habits.  The  genus 
Nasua  inhabits  Mexico,  Central  and  South  America.  We 
have  two  species,  the  Red  Coati-Mondi,  (Nasua  rufa),  and 
the  White-Nosed,  (N.  narica). 

The  Raccoon  Dog,  of  Japan,  (Nyctereutes  procyonoides), 
is  to  all  outward  appearances  a  raccoon,  but  its  feet  are 
digitigrade,  not  plantigrade,  and  it  is  a  true  dog. 


HO  POPULAR   OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 

The  American  Badger,  (Ta.ridea  atncricana),  is  repre- 
sented by  a  fine,  large  and  very  light-colored  specimen  that 
was  presented  by  President  Roosevelt.  The  European 
Badger,  (Mdes  ta.rus),  is  shown  near  by. 

Our  collection  of  Eodents  contains  the  following  im- 
portant and  representative  species  of  squirrels : 

NORTH  AMERICAN. 

Grav  Squirrel Sciurus  carolinens'is New  York. 

Black  Squirrel "  Ohio. 

Fox   Squirrel ludovicianus Kansas. 

Southern  Fox  Squirrel "         nigcr Louisiana. 

Red  Squirrel kudsonius New  York. 

Eastern  Chipmunk Tainias  striatus 

Western  Chipmunk gpeciosus California. 

Parry's  Spermophile Citellus  parryi Alaska. 

Thirteen-Lined  Spermophile.  .SpermophUus  tridecem-lineatus .  Iowa. 

FOREIGX  SPECIES. 

Malabar  Hill  Squirrel Sciurus  malabaricus S.  India. 

Indian  Hill  Squirrel bicolor N.  India. 

Prevost  Squirrel prerosti Malayana. 

Golden-Bellied  Squirrel aureogaster Mexico 

Columbia  Fire-Backed  Squirrel.        "  variabilis '.S.  America. 

No  collection  of  Rodents  is  worthy  of  acceptance  by  the 
public  without  a  fair  representation  of  Porcupines.  The 
most  wonderful  species  is  the  African  Porcupine,  (Hystrix 
cristata),  which  when  disturbed  erects  a  threatening  array 
of  enormously-long,  shining  black-and-white  quills  that  are 
a  wonder  to  behold.  The  lofty  white  crest  of  this  animal 
is  one  of  its  most  conspicuous  features. 

The  Indian  Crestless  Hill  Porcupine,  (H.  longicaudcr') , 
usually  present  in  our  collection,  is  merely  a  quiet  under- 
study of  the  former.  Strange  to  say — and  also  provoking 
— our  old  friend  of  the  North  Woods,  the  Canada  Porcu- 
pine, (Erethison  dorsatus),  is  much  more  capricious  and 
difficult  to  keep  for  a  long  period  than  either  of  the  fine 
foreign  species  already  mentioned.  It  is  only  the  men  who 
know  all  about  animals  who  can  tell  us  why  nothing  seems 
to  exactly  satisfy  them,  and  why  they  will  not  breed  here, 
live  ten  years  and  be  happy.  Even  the  best  cage  life  does 
not  seem  to  be  good  enough  for  them;  but  we  are  still 
experimenting. 

In  order  that  visitors  to  the  Park  may  at  all  times  be 
able  to  see  a  Beaver,  (Castor  canadensis},  and  not  be 
thwarted  in  that  desire  by  the  very  shy  habits  of  the  ani- 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


Ill 


AFRICAN   PORCUPINE. 

mals  in  the  Beaver  Pond,  we  have  a  specimen  on  exhibition 
in  the  Small-Mammal  House.  This  individual  came  from 
the  Rio  Grande,  as  a  small  kit,  and  has  been  reared  in  its 
present  quarters.  It  is  kept  constantly  supplied  with  food- 
wood,  chiefly  of  poplar  and  maple,  and  clean  water  in  which 
to  bathe. 

The  Capybara,  (Hydrochaerus  capybara},  is  the  largest  of 
all  gnawing  animals,  and  the  most  remarkable  rodent  in 
our  collection.  In  form  and  size  it  suggests  a  large,  gray, 
coarse-haired  pig.  It  is  a  water-loving  animal,  of  the  Ameri- 
can tropics,  and  lives  on  the  grassy  banks  of  the  delta  of 
the  Orinoco,  and  similar  places  farther  south.  It  is  one  of 
the  best  divers  of  all  land  animals,  and  when  attacked  on 
land  always  plunges  into  the  water  and  dives  for  about 
100  feet  before  coming  to  the  surface.  It  is  strictly  a  vege- 
table feeder,  and  its  flesh  is  very  palatable  food.  It  takes 
kindly  to  captivity,  and  in  disposition  it  is  very  affectionate. 

The  Agouti,  (Dasyprocta),  is  to  the  jungles  of  South 
America  as  the  cotton-tail  rabbit  is  to  the  forests  of  the 
eastern  United  States;  but  structurally  it  is  not  closely 
related  to  the  members  of  the  Babbit  Family.  It  lives 
wholly  on  the  ground,  in  dense  cover,  and  is  very  difficult 
to  shoot.  As  a  rule,  it  is  impossible  for  dogs  to  catch  it 
because  it  runs  so  swiftly  through  the  dense  cover  that 
they  cannot  keep  it  in  sight.  There  are  a  number  of  species, 
varying  in  color  from  dark  brown  to  golden  yellow. 


112 


POPULAR    OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


TAMANDUA. 

The  Toothless  Mammals. — The  Order  Edentata  contains 
some  of  the  most  odd  and  remarkable  mammals  that  ever 
find  their  way  into  a  zoological  park.  They  are  the  arma- 
dilloes,  ant-eaters  and  sloths.  Without  exception,  they  are 
delicate  feeders,  and  difficult  to  keep  for  long  periods,  and 
for  this  reason  the  number  on  exhibition  constantly  varies 
between  half  a  score  and  none  at  all!  As  far  as  it  is  pos- 
sible, the  species  named  below  will  be  kept  on  exhibition; 
but  these  rarities  are  difficult  to  obtain,  and  the  supply 
must  be  regarded  as  intermittent. 

The  Nine-Banded  Armadillo,  (Tatu  novemcinctum),  of 
southern  Texas  and  Arizona,  and  southward,  is  the  only 
edentate  found  in  the  United  States.  Its  total  length,  from 
nose  to  tail-tip,  is  about  26  inches,  and  it  is  about  as  large 
as  an  opossum.  Its  strangest  feature  is  the  horny  shell, 
with  9  jointed  bands  in  the  middle,  which  Nature  has  de- 
signed for  the  animal's  protection.  It  lives  in  burrows  in 
the  earth,  and  in  a  wild  state  it  feeds  on  a  mixed  diet  of 
worms,  ants,  snails,  beetles,  grasshoppers  and  other  insects. 

The  Six-Banded  Armadillo,  (Dasypus  sexcinctus},  of  South 
America,  has  a  much  stronger  and  more  bony  shell  than  the 
preceding  species,  but  very  similar  habits.'  The  Three- 
Banded  Armadillo,  (Tolypeutes  tricinctus),  is  the  most  re- 
markable of  all — and  also  the  most  difficult  to  obtain.  It 
is  able  to  convert  itself  into  a  round  ball  covered  at  all 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL   PARK. 


113 


GREAT  ANT-EATER. 

points  by  bony  armor,  and  remarkably  well  protected  from 
the  teeth  of  predatory  animals. 

The  Great  Ant-Eater,  (Myrmecophaga  jubata). — This  is  a 
very  remarkable  animal,  and  usually  is  to  be  found  alive  in 
the  Small-Mammal  House.  Its  anatomical  peculiarities  are 
apparent  at  a  glance.  Its  toothless  jaws  are  enormously 
elongated,  and  taper  to  a  rounded  point,  wh,ere  the  mouth 
opens  as  a  narrow  slit,  scarcely  large  enough  to  admit  the 
large  end  of  a  lead  pencil.  Its  front  claws  are  large  and 
strong,  for  use  in  tearing  open  ant-hills  and  decayed  logs; 
and  the  creature  walks  upon  them  as  if  club-footed.  Its 
tail  is  long  and  thick, and  bears  a  luxuriant  brush,  of  coarse, 
wavy  hair  more  than  a  foot  long.  The  negroes  of  British 
Guiana  gravely  inform  travellers  that  the  Ant-Eater  uses 
his  bushy  tail  as  a  broom,  with  which  he  sweeps  up  ants  in 
order  to  devour  them  wholesale. 

As  may  be  inferred  from  the  total  absence  of  teeth,  this 
strange  creature  lives  chiefly  upon  crawling  insects.  In  de- 
vouring the  dreadful  ants,  which  in  a  South  American  forest 
often  make  life  a  burden,  it  helps  to  preserve  the  balance 
of  Nature.  In  captivity  the  food  of  this  animal  consists  of 
milk,  raw  eggs  and  ground  meat.  In  taking  its  food  it 
thrusts  out  from  four  to  eight  inches  of  round,  wormlike 
tongue,  which  contrary  to  many  published  statements,  is 
not  covered  with  sticky  saliva. 


114 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


SIX-BANDED   ARMADILLO. 

The  Tamandua,  (Tamandua  tetradactyla),  is  a  smaller 
ant-eater  than  the  preceding  species,  of  tree-climbing  habits, 
with  a  proportionately  shorter  head,  no  long  hair  on  its 
tail,  and  extremely  large  front  claws.  It  is  found  in  Ven- 
ezuela, the  Guianas,  Brazil,  and  in  fact  that  greater  portion 
of  the  region  of  tropical  forests  on  this  continent  south  of 
Mexico.  Its  tail  is  prehensile,  or  grasping,  and  in  climbing 
is  used  almost  constantly. 

The  Sloths  are  the  slowest,  the  most  helpless  and  defense- 
less of  the  edentates.  They  subsist  chiefly  upon  leaves, 
they  climb  no  more  swiftly  than  a  man,  and  they  escape 
their  enemies  through  the  resemblance  of  their  pelage  to  the 
rough  bark  of  the  tree-trunks  among  which  they  live.  They 
have  a  few  teeth,  but  none  for  defense,  and  their  claws 
are  of  use  only  in  climbing,  except  that  they  can  pinch 
with  them. 

Two  species  of  Sloth  are  occasionally  seen  in  the  Zoolog- 
ical Park,  but  usually  in  the  Primate  House,  where  the 
high  temperature  is  better  suited  to  their  needs. 

The  Three-Toed  Sloth,  (Brady pus  tridactylus),  is  the  one 
with  a  brown  "saddle-mark"  of  short  hair  "in  the  middle  of 
its  back.  The  remainder  of  its  pelage  is  coarse  and  long, 
and  its  greenish  tint  renders  it  a  close  imitation  of  algae- 
covered  tree-bark.  The  Two-Toed  Sloth,  (Choloepus  hoff- 
ntani),  is^much  larger  than  the  preceding,  and  lives  longer 
in  captivity.  Four  fine  adult  specimens  occupy  a  large  cage 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL   PARK. 


115 


TWO-TOED    SLOTH. 

at  the  Primate  House,  where  they  seem  to  be  fully  acclima- 
tized. In  form  and  habit  they  are  remarkable  animals,  and 
well  worthy  of  close  attention. 

The  Egg-Laying  Mammals. — For  several  months  there 
were  exhibited  here  two  Echidnas — of  all  small  mammals 
ever  seen  alive  in  New  York  the  most  wonderful.  The  Ech- 
idna comes  from  Australia,  the  home  of  remarkable  types  of 
animals,  and  belongs  to  the  lowest  Order  of  Mam- 
mals, (Monotremata).  Like  its  distant  relative,  the  duck- 
billed platypus,  it  reproduces  by  laying  eggs!  Its  back 
is  covered  with  short  but  very  thick  spines,  and  its  nose  is 
a  long,  slender  beak,  absolutely  unique.  Other  examples 
of  this  species  will  be  exhibited  whenever  possible. 

THE  PUMA  AND  LYNX  HOUSE,  No.  33A. 

Near  the  Small-Mammal  House  (No.  35)  will  be  found 
a  log  cabin  with  its  entire  front  opening  into  two  wire- 
covered  yards.  The  interior  of  the  building  is  provided 
with  sleeping-dens  in  which  the  occupants  of  the  two  en- 
closures can  keep  dry  and  warm.  This  installation  is  for 
lynxes,  but  half  of  it  is  occupied  by  pumas.  Already  it  has 
fully  proven  the  desirability  of  keeping  lynxes  and  pumas 
constantly  in  the  open  air,  and  without  artificial  heat.  To 
lynxes  especially  there  is  nothing  more  deadly  than  a  well- 
heated  room,  indoors. 


116  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

The  Puma,  (Felis  concolor],  is  described  in  the  section 
relating  to  the  Lion  House,  where  other  Pumas  are  exhib- 
ited (page  78). 

Of  the  Lynxes,  we  have  two  well-defined  species,  and 
one  subspecies.  The  Canada  Lynx,  (Lynx  canadensis),  is 
well  represented  in  the  southern  compartment  of  the  Puma 
House,  where  a  fine  adult  pair  has  become  acclimatized. 
This  is  the  Loup  Cervier  of  the  French  Canadians,  and  it  is 
truly  the  Lynx  of  Canada  and  the  subarctic  North.  It  has 
no  spots  on  its  body,  and  its  pelage  is  a  cold  pepper-and- 
salt  gray  color.  Its  feet  are  large  and  heavily  furred,  and 
it  has  a  long,  black  hair-pencil  on  the  tip  of  each  ear.  A 
large  specimen  stands  ]  8  inches  high,  and  weighs  22  pounds. 
The  food  of  the  American  Lynxes  generally  consists  of  hares 
and  rabbits,  ground  birds  of  all  kinds,  and  anything  else 
that  can  be  caught  and  killed,  except  porcupine.  To  man 
they  are  not  "dangerous  animals." 

THE  BURROWING  MAMMALS,  AND  OTHERS,  No.  42. 

North  America  is  wonderfully  rich  in  species  of  gnawing 
animals,  and  the  end  is  not  yet.  The  investigations  of  our 
inammalogists  are  adding  new  species  with  a  degree  of 
rapidity  and  parallelism  that  is  fairly  bewildering. 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  Zoological  Society  to  do  its  utmost 
to  increase  as  much  as  possible  the  sum  total  of  knowledge 
of  our  largest  Order  of  Mammals.  Manifestly,  however,  it 
is  impracticable  to  do  more  than  place  before  visitors  a  rea- 
sonable number  of  well-chosen  types,  which  shall  represent 
as  many  as  possible  of  the  twelve  Families,  and  also  the 
genera  most  worth  knowing.  <& 

The  most  serious  obstacle  in  the  way  of  anyone  who  at- 
tempts to  exhibit  collections  of  living  rodents  lies  in  the 
natural  propensity  of  so  many  species  to  keep  out  of  sight 
during  the  daytime.  This  is  particularly  true  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Mouse,  Pocket  Gopher,  and  Pouched  Rat  Fami- 
lies, comprising  about  three  hundred  species  in  all.  With 
very  few  exceptions,  the  whole  matter  of  the  exhibition 
of  collections  of  living  rodents  is  something  new,  and  every 
step  is  an  experiment.  In  the  belief  that  even  the  most  shy 
burrowing  animals  will  appreciate  abundant  room,  perfectly 
natural  surroundings,  plenty  of  food,  and  immunity  from 
annoyance,  and  eventually  fall  into  the  habit  of  spending 
many  of  the  daylight  hours  above  ground,  as  do  prairie- 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  117 

dogs,  the  Society  has  constructed  a  series  of  fifteen  small 
yards,  each  10x20  feet,  bounded  by  walls  going  down  to 
bedrock,  and  enclosed  above  by  a  box-like  arrangement  of 
very  light  wire-netting  5  feet  high.  The  ground  is  chiefly 
undisturbed  soil  of  a  firm  and  gravelly  nature,  thoroughly 
drained,  and  all  earth  filling  has  been  tightly  rammed  into 
place  to  prevent  caving  in  the  burrows.  Above  ground, 
each  yard  contains  weathered  rocks,  stumps,  and  hollow 
logs  in  abundance. 

In  these  fifteen  yards,  each  of  which  will  hold  specimens 
of  at  least  two  or  three  species,  will  be  placed  strongly 
marked  types  of  those  families  whose  representatives  are 
most  numerous  in  North  America,  and  also  the  least  known, 
only  a  few  of  which  may  be  mentioned  here. 

The  Sewellel  Family,  (Aplodontidae) ,  contains  five  or  six 
species  and  is  of  unusual  scientific  interest.  The  Sewellel, 
Mountain  Beaver,  Farmer  or  "Showt'l"  (Aplodontia  rufus 
and  major),  is  an  animal  of  the  size  and  general  appearance 
of  a  large,  short-tailed  muskrat.  It  inhabits  a  few  localities 
in  remote  regions  in  the  mountain-valleys  of  northern  Cali- 
fornia, Oregon,  Washington,  and  southern  British  Columbia. 
It  feeds  like  a  beaver,  climbs  bushes  four  feet  high,  burrows 
in  wet  ground,  and  fights  like  a  little  fiend  when  brought  to 
bay.  Notwithstanding  the  size  of  this  animal,  it  is  very 
seldom  seen,  and  is  but  little  known. 

The  Squirrel  Family,  (Scinridae),  is  large  (one  hundred 
and  forty-one  species),  very  interesting,  and  entitled  to 
much  consideration.  In  the  present  enclosure  will  be  shown 
in  summer  many  species  of  interesting  ground  squirrels, 
chipmunks,  and  marmots.  In  winter  all  the  squirrels,  save 
one  or  two  hardy  native  species,  will  be  found  in  the  Small- 
Mammal  House,  near  by. 

The  Rabbit  Family,  (Leporidae),  is  one  of  the  most  diffi- 
cult to  install  and  exhibit.  Its  members  are  large  and 
showy,  but  for  several  reasons  it  is  very  difficult  to  keep 
them  on  exhibition  in  captivity.  In  time,  however,  all  four 
of  the  great  groups — Rabbit,  Varying  Hare,  Jack  Hare,  and 
also  the  Pikas,  forming  the  allied  Family  Ochotonidae — will 
be  represented  by  specimens. 

Just  what  can  be  accomplished  satisfactorily  with  the 
most  interesting  members  of  the  Jumping  Mouse,  Pouched 
Rat,  and  Pocket  Gopher  Families,  remains  to  be  determined 
by  trial.  If  they  can  be  induced  to  show  themselves  to 


US  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

visitors,  during  daylight  hours,  they  will  be  kept  for  ex- 
hibition ;  otherwise  not.  At  present,  some  examples  of  these 
species  can  be  seen  in  the  Eeptile  House. 

In  Winter.— In  the  temperate  zone,  when  "winter  comes 
to  rule  the  varied  year,"  all  the  burrowing  animals  must 
retire  to  their  burrows,  live  upon  their  buried  stores  of 
winter  food,  and  hibernate  until  spring.  The  tropical 
species  do  not  know  how  to  hibernate,  and  therefore  they 
must  be  taken  indoors,  or  they  perish. 

In  order  that  our  native  species  of  rodents  may  be  seen 
all  winter,  and  that  the  tropical  species  may  be  kept  alive, 
nearly  all  the  animals  that  in  summer  live  in  the  Burrow- 
ing Mammal  Quarters  are  removed  in  autumn  to  the  well- 
warmed  Small-Mammal  House.  It  also  happens  that  in 
summer  a  few  of  the  small  carnivores,  and  all  armadilloes, 
are  kept  in  these  Quarters. 

In  addition  to  the  rodents  which  it  is  practicable  to  ex- 
hibit in  these  enclosures,  the  summer  season  will  find  some 
of  them  occupied  by  certain  especially  interesting  species 
which  need  the  soil  of  Mother  Earth  as  well  as  sunlight 
and  air.  Here  will  be  found  the  Armadilloes,  the  Nasuas, 
the  Raccoon  Dogs,  the  Swift  Foxes  and  a  few  others,  which 
in  winter  belong  in  the  Small-Mammal  House. 

THE   PRAIRIE-DOG   VILLAGE,  No.  41. 

The  Western  Prairie-' 'Dog,"  or  Prairie  Marmot,  (Cyno- 
mys  ludoricianus) . — Occupying  a  conspicuous  hill-top  near 
the  Small-Deer  House,  and  overlooking  the  Wild-Fowl 
Pond,  is  a  circular  enclosure,  80  feet  in  diameter,  sur- 
rounded by  an  iron  fence  with  an  overhang,  with  walls 
going  down  to  bedrock.  This  contains  about  fifty  fat  and 
jolly  little  Prairie  Marmots,  one-half  of  which  are  the  gift 
of  a  Montana  ranchman,  Mr.  Howard  Eaton.  The  soil  of 
the  enclosure  has  never  been  disturbed,  and  there  is  no 
danger  that  the  little  creatures  ever  will  be  smothered  in 
their  burrows,  as  frequently  happens  in  earth  that  has  once 
been  dug  up  and  filled  in  again. 

Owing  to  its  optimistic  and  even  joyous  disposition,  the 
Prairie-" Dog "  has  many  friends,  and  "happy  as  a  Prairie- 
'Dog'  "  would  be  a  far  better  comparison  than  "happy  as  a 
king."  His  cousin,  the  woodchuck,  has  the  air  of  being 
perpetually  "in  the  dumps,"  but  the  Prairie-" Dog " — never. 
His  so-called  bark  is  really  a  laugh,  and  his  absurd  little  tail 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL   PARK.  J19 

was  given  to  him  solely  as  a  means  of  visible  expression  of 
good  nature.  But  he  has  his  enemies  and  detractors.  The 
coyote  loves  his  plump  and  toothsome  body;  the  "granger" 
hates  him  for  the  multitude  of  his  holes,  and  puts  spoonfuls 
of  poisoned  wheat  into  his  burrow. 

THE  BEAR  DENS,  No.  37. 

The  bears  of  the  world  form  a  very  interesting  group; 
and  when  its  representatives  are  properly  installed — 
in  large,  open  yards,  with  abundant  sunlight,  fresh  air  and 
room  for  exercise — they  develop  finely,  live  happily,  and 
furnish  endless  entertainment.  Under  proper  conditions, 
bears  are  cheerful  animals,  full  of  the  playful  spirit  that 
robs  captivity  of  its  chief  terror.  To  confine  large  bears 
singly,  in  small  cages,  or  in  wet-floored,  high-walled  dun- 
geons, or  in  the  unspeakable  "pits"  of  mediaeval  type,  is  a 
sin  against  Nature.  It  is  to  be  noted,  however,  that  small 
and  timid  bears,  like  Ursus  japonicus,  are  better  off  in  small 
cages  than  in  the  very  large  ones ;  and  it  is  for  this  reason 
that  eight  small  dens  have  been  provided,  opposite  the  ori- 
ginal series. 

The  Zoological  Society  has  put  forth  considerable  effort 
in  constructing  a  series  of  nine  large  Bear  Dens  which  pro- 
vide ideal  conditions  for  their  inmates.  Bears  do  not  need 
buildings!  Their  habits  call  for  large,  open  yards,  properly 
situated,  with  snug  and  dry  sleeping-dens  attached,  to 
which  they  can  retire  whenever  they  wish.  To  them, 
masonry  walls  are  worse  than  useless,  for  they  cut  off  sun- 
light and  promote  dampness;  but  rocks  and  trees  upon 
which  to  climb  are  very  beneficial.  In  warm  weather,  all 
bears  are  fond  of  bathing,  and  a  bathing  pool  in  each  cage 
is  very  necessary. 

It  is  cruelty  to  animals  for  visitors  to  throw  peanuts,  or 
food  of  any  kind,  into  our  bear  dens;  and  it  is  strictly  for- 
bidden. All  persons  who  do  not  wish  to  be  reprimanded  in 
public,  or  arrested,  are  advised  to  refrain  from  it.  Teasing 
with  food  always  irritates  bears,  sets  them  to  fighting,  spoils 
their  dispositions  and  renders  them  dangerous  to  the  keepers 
who  have  to  go  in  with  them!  All  visitors  who  are  law- 
abiding,  and  friendly  to  the  Zoological  Society,  are  requested 
to  assist  the  keepers  and  policemen  in  preventing  lawless  per- 
sons from  throwing  food  into  the  bear  dens.  A  stern  repri- 
mand often  prevents  serious  trouble. 


120 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


POLAR  BEARS. 
Showing  a  portion  of  their  den  and  pool  cut  from  the  solid  rock. 

The  bears  of  North  America  form  .four  well-defined  groups, 
as  follows: 

The  Polar  Bear.  The  Alaskan  Brown  Bears. 

The  Grizzly  Bear.  The  Black  Bears,  and  their  allies. 

Up  to  this  date  (April  1.  1913),  24  species  and  subspecies 
have  been  described,  and  it  is  reasonably  certain  that  much 
more  work  remains  to  be  done  on  the  members  of  this  group 
of  animals  before  the  status  of  each  valid  and  invalid  species 
will  be  rendered  thoroughly  clear. 

The  most  noteworthy  species  are  as  follows : 

THE  MOST  IMPORTANT  SPECIES  OF  NORTH  AMERICAN  BEARS. 

Ursus  maritimus,  (Desm.),  Polar  Bear. 
Arctic  regions  generally. 


Ursus  middendorffi,  (Merriam),  Kadiak  Bear. 

Kadiak  Is.,  Alaska. 
Ursus  dalli,  (Merr.),  YakutatBear. 

Yakutat  Bay,  Alaska. 
Ursus  eulophus,  (Merr.),  Admiralty  Bear. 

Admiralty  Is.,  Alaska. 
Ursus  gyas,  (Merr.),  Peninsula  Bear. 

Portage  Bay,  Alaska  Peninsula. 


, 
8  £ 

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NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


121 


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Ursus  horribilis,  (Ord.),  Grizzly  Bear:  Silver-Tip. 

Wyoming  and  Utah  to  Alaska. 
Ursus  horribilis  horriaeus,  (Baird),  Mexican  Grizzly. 

Southwestern  New  Mexico. 
Ursus  richardsctii,  (Swainson),  Barren-Ground 

Grizzly. 

Great  Slave  Lake  region,  and  Barren-Grounds. 

'  Ursus  americanus,  (Pallas),  Black  Bear. 

Eastern  North  America. 
Ursus  luteolus,  (Griffith),  Louisiana  Bear. 

Louisiana  and  Texas. 
Ursus  floridanus,  (Merr.),  Everglade  Bear. 

Florida. 
Ursus  emmonsi,  (Dall),  Glacier  Bear. 

St.  Elias  Alps,  Yakutat  Bay. 
Ursus  kermodei,  (Hornaday),  Inland  White  Bear. 

Northwestern  British  Columbia. 


The  Polar  Bear,  (Ursus  maritimus). — In  nearly  every  col- 
lection of  living  bears  the  individuals  of  this  species  are  the 
most  showy  and  attractive.  Their  white  coats  quickly  catch 
the  eye  of  the  visitor,  and  whether  young  or  old,  they  are 
generally  the  most  active  and  playful  of  all  captive  bears. 
In  cold  weather,  when  other  bears  lie  in  the  sun,  or,  if  per- 
mitted, curl  up  in  the  straw  of  their  sleeping  dens,  the 
Polar  Bear  will  disport  himself  in  the  freezing  cold  water 
of  his  swimming  pool,  and  joyously  play  with  a  cake  of  ice 
until  the  sight  of  it  makes  one  shiver. 

The  Polar  Bear  Den  is  situated  at  the  north  end  of  Rock- 
ing-Stone  Hill,  about  two  hundred  feet  from  the  north  end 
of  the  main  series  of  Bear  Dens.  It  is  reached  by  descending 
the  steps  leading  toward  the  Beaver  Pond,  and  turning  to 
the  right.  From  the  Rocking-Stone  Restaurant,  the  Polar 
Bears  are  quickly  reached  by  descending  the  hill  toward  the 
north. 

Although  the-Polar  Bear  inhabits  practically  the  whole  of 
the  Arctic  Ocean  and  its  numerous  islands,  it  is  by  no  means 
the  most  northerly  warm-blooded  mammal.  Nansen  found 
fox  tracks  at  85°  N.,  but  the  most  northerly  bear  observed 
was  on  the  84th  parallel.  The  favorite  home  of  this  ani- 
mal is  the  edge  of  the  great  polar  ice  cap,  where  Neptune 
and  the  "Frost  King"  wage  continuous  warfare.  He  seldom 
ventures  more  than  a  day's  journey  inland,  on  any  shore. 


122 


POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


POLAR  BEAR  "SILVER  KING." 

In  winter,  as  the  edge  of  the  ice-pack  moves  southward,  and 
in  summer  when  it  retreats  northward,  he  follows  it  in 
order  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  ringed  seals  and  walrus 
that  also  go  with  it. 

The  power  of  the  Polar  Bear  to  resist  ice-cold  water — 
nay,  even  to  enjoy  it — may  fairly  be  regarded  as  one  of 
the  wonders  of  Nature.  On  the  coast  of  Alaska  this  strange 
creature  will  plunge  into  the  Arctic  Ocean  and  swim  miles 
from  shore,  through  tossing  fields  of  broken  ice,  and  wher- 
ever the  mother  leads,  her  cubs  follow. 

In  the  Autumn  of  1910,  the  sealing  steamer  "Boethic"  ar- 
rived at  New  York  bringing  two  adult  Polar  Bears  that  were 
captured  in  the  summer  of  that  year  by  Mr.  Paul  J.  Rainey. 
Both  animals  were  presented  to  the  Zoological  Society,  and 
the  largest  one  called  "Silver  King"  occupies  the  cage 
that  was  specially  built  for  the  polar  bears,  and  the  female 
is  exhibited  in  very  comfortable  quarters,  built-  for  her  near 
that  installation.  Owing  to  their  savage  temper  neither 
of  these  bears  ever  can  be  kept  with  other  bears,  nor  can 
any  keeper  ever  enter  the  cage  of  either.  "Silver  King" 
weighs  880  pounds  and  is  probably  the  largest  Polar  Bear 
ever  captured  alive  and  unhurt.  While  the  female  is  not  as 
large  as  "Silver  King,"  she  is  in  every  way  as  perfect  a 
specimen. 

The  Yakutat  Bear,  (Ursus  rfa/fi).— In  1899,  we  received 
from  Hudson  Lake,  Copper  River  District,  Alaska,  two 


NEW   YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


SYRIAN  BEAR. 

young  Alaskan  Brown  Bears  which  for  some  time  we  be- 
lieved would  prove  to  represent  the  species  found  on  Kadiak 
Island.  In  this  belief  they  were  for  a  time  labeled  as  Ka- 
diak Bears,  (U.  middendorffi) ,  and  so  entered  provisionally 
in  previous  editions  of  the  Guide  Book.  The  maturity  of 
the  animals  has  proven  that  this  supposition  was  erroneous. 
The  extremely  short  and  thick  muzzle  of  the  adult  male 
proves  conclusively  that  they  are  not  identical  with  the 
long-skulled  species  of  Kadiak.  This  interesting  pair,  ab- 
solutely identical  in  color  with  middendorffi,  are  now  iden- 
tified, pending  further  revisions  of  our  Urisdae,  as  Ursus 
dalli. 

This  species,  and  the  two  following,  well  represent  the 
group  of  big  Alaskan  Brown  Bears,  which  are  quite  distinct 
from  the  grizzlies  and  blacks.  They  are  characterized  by 
their  great  size,  high  shoulders,  massive  heads,  shaggy  brown 
pelage,  and  large  claws.  They  live  chiefly  upon  salmon, 
which  they  catch  from  the  small  streams,  but  they  also 
devour  great  quantities  of  grass. 

The  Peninsula  Bear,  (Ursus  gyas),  of  Moeller  Bay,  well 
down  the  Alaskan  Peninsula,  may  at  once  be  recognized 
by  its  light  brownish-yellow  color,  and  its  great  size  for  a 
bear  born  in  1904.  Its  claws  are  of  enormous  thickness. 

This  animal  is  now  beyond  doubt  one  of  the  two  largest 
bears  in  captivity,  his  only  rival  being  in  the  Zoological  Park 
at  Washington. 


124  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

The  Admiralty  Bear,  (Ursus  eulophus),  represents  a  large 
species  originally  discovered  on  Admiralty  Island,  southern 
Alaska.  Its  dark  brown  color  is  very  much  like  that  of  the 
Yakutat  and  Kadiak  bears. 

The  Grizzly  Bear,  or  "Silver-Tip  Grizzly,"  (Ursus  horri- 
frflw).— The  rapid  disappearance  of  this  species  from  the 
United  States  renders  all  living  examples  of  it  specially 
interesting. 

Of  all  bears,  the  Silver-Tip  Grizzly  is  the  most  savage  and 
dangerous.  He  is  easily  angered,  and  when  wounded  or 
harried  not  only  becomes  furiously  vindictive,  but  he  also 
possesses  a  degree  of  courage  which  renders  him  a  danger- 
ous antagonist.  As  a  general  thing,  a  Grizzly  Bear,  like  a 
lion  or  tiger,  will  run  as  soon  as  he  discovers  the  presence  of 
his  only  enemy — man;  but  if  he  is  wounded  or  cornered— 
or  thinks  he  is  cornered — he  assumes  the  aggressive,  without 
an  instant's  delay.  Unfortunately,  the  largest  Silver-Tip 
Grizzlies  ever  killed  have  been  too  far  from  scales  to  make 
it  possible  to  weigh  them. 

The  most  interesting  specimen  of  the  Rocky  Mountain 
Silver-Tip  now  on  exhibition  is  a  dark-colored  and  very 
handsome  specimen,  named  "Engineer,"  obtained  in 
Meeker,  Colorado,  by  Professor  Henry  F.  Osborn,  and  pre- 
sented to  the  Society  by  the  Engineers'  Club  of  New  York 
City.  The  color  of  this  individual  is  darker  than  the  most 
common  type  of  the  Silver-Tip,  which  is  sometimes  almost 
as  gray  as  a  badger. 

A  very  beautiful  male  Silver-Tip,  from  "Wyoming,  is  much 
lighter  in  color  than  the  Colorado  specimen.  Its  face  and 
head  are  so  light-colored  it  would  be  called  by  Rocky 
Mountain  hunters  a  "Bald-Faced"  Grizzly.  A  third  speci- 
men was  obtained  for  the  Society  at  White  Horse,  Yukon 
Territory,  in  1905,  and  its  development  will  be  watched  with 
much  interest.  Throughout  the  Rocky  Mountain  region 
the  "Silver-Tip"  and  the  "Grizzly"  are  identical;  but  the 
color  of  the  species  varies  considerably. 

In  a  wild  state  Grizzly  Bears  live  on  berries  and  fruits  of 
all  kinds  available,  succulent  roots,  grubs,  carrion  if  it  comes 
handy,  and  live  game  if  it  can  be  killed.  In  the  cattle- 
growing  states  bordering  the  Rocky  Mountains,  owing  to 
their  cattle-killing  propensities,  a  bounty  of  from  twelve  to 
fifteen  dollars  per  head  is  paid  for  their  destruction. 

The  Black  Bear,  (Urstis  americanus}. — Until  quite  re- 
cently all  black  bears  in  North  America  were  referred  to  a 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  125 

single  species,  with  the  type  of  which  most  persons  are 
familiar.  Even  during  the  last  twenty  years  living  repre 
sentatives  of  the  Black  Bear  group  have  been  found  in  near- 
ly every  state  and  territory  of  the  United  States,  and  also 
in  northern  Mexico,  Labrador,  Province  of  Quebec,  Alberta, 
Assiniboia,  British  Columbia,  Alaska,  and  the  Mackenzie 
River  basin.  Our  collection  contains  Black  Bears  repre- 
senting several  widely  separated  localities. 

The  Spectacled  Bear,  ( Ursus  ornatus} . — After  ten  years  of 
constant  effort  the  Zoological  Park  finally  acquired  late  in 
1910,  a  fine  male  specimen  of  the  very  rare  and  little  known 
Spectacled  Bear  of  the  Andes  of  Ecuador  and  Peru. 
This  zoological  prize  was  procured  for  us  in  Quito,  by  Mr. 
Edgar  Beecher  Bronson  (Author  of  "In  Closed  Territory,") 
and  by  him  presented  to  the  Society.  "Frederico"  is  dis- 
tinguished by  a  glossy  jet-black  coat,  very  small  ears,  long 
feet  and  a  large  imperfect  circle  of  white  around  each  eye, 
with  white  bands  down  the  cheeks  and  throat.  In  size  it 
matches  a  small  American  black  bear.  As  soon  as  the  new 
bear  dens  are  finished,  this  animal  will  be  removed  from  the 
Small-Mammal  House  to  one  of  them.  If  this  species  was 
ever  before  exhibited  in  North  America,  we  have  never 
heard  of  it. 

The  Andean  Black  Bear,  (Ursus  ornatus  thomasi),  from 
Southern  Columbia,  South  America,  is  a  subspecies  of  the 
spectacled  bear,  with  no  "spectacles"  around  its  eyes,  and  no 
white  markings  save  under  its  chin  and  throat.  This  speci- 
men is  smaller  than  the  one  from  Quito.  Practically  nothing 
is  known  of  the  habits  of  these  two  species. 

The  Brown  Bear  of  Europe,  (Ursus  arctos),  is  represented 
by  two  specimens  from  Central  Russia  which  bear  a  general 
resemblance  to  Rocky  Mountain  grizzlies.  This  is  so  striking 
that  were  they  not  labeled  very  few  persons  would  suspect 
their  European  birth.  They  have  the  high  shoulders  and 
grizzly  brown  coat  of  the  silver-tip,  and  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains  would  be  considered  good  examples  of  Ursus 
horribilis. 

This  pair  has  bred  four  times  and  reared  some  very  fine 
cubs. 

The  Syrian  Bear,  (Ursus  synacus),  is  well  represented  by 
a  fine  specimen  from  Trebizond,  Asia  Minor.  This  bear  is 
of  a  pale  yellow  color,  with  very  high  shoulders,  narrow 
head  and  smooth  pelage.  The  Syrian  bear  represents  "the 
bears  of  the  Bible."  which  appeared  in  punishment  of  the 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


SPECTACLED   BEAR. 

children  who  were  disrespectful  to  the  prophet  Elisha. 
Bears  of  this  species  are  often  trained  to  dance,  and  per- 
form various  tricks  at  command,  and  usually  lead  very 
miserable  lives  at  the  hands  of  gypsies  and  other  bear 
specialists  of  nomadic  habits. 

The  Hairy-Eared  Bear,  (Ursus  piscator},  a  species  very 
rarely  seen  in  captivity,  is  represented  by  two  fine  speci- 
mens from  the  Altai  Mountains,  Central  Asia.  This  animal 
is  sometimes  called,  on  account  of  its  peculiar  light  brown 
color,  the  Isabella  Bear.  Its  more  correct  name  has  been 
bestowed  on  account  of  its  large  and  very  hairy  ears.  It 
inhabits  northeastern  Asia,  as  far  southwestward  as  the 
Altai  Mountains.  The  fine  pair  exhibited  were  presented 
to  the  Society  by  Mr.  Carl  Hagenbeck. 

The  Himalayan  Black  Bear,  (Ursus  torquatus],  is  the 
handomest  of  the  four  living  species  of  black  bears,  and 
can  easily  be  identified  anywhere  by  three  distinct  char- 
acters, neither  of  which  is  possessed  by  any  other  black  bear. 
They  are,  a  pure  white  chin,  long  side -whiskers  c«n  the  jaws 
and  sides  of  the  neck  and  very  large  ears.  Up  to  this  date 
the  geographic  range  of  this  very  interesting  animal  has 
been  recorded  as  extending  from  eastern  Persia  through 
Beluchistan,  Afghanistan,  Assam,  and  South  China  to  For- 
mosa; but  the  three  specimens  exhibited  were  taken  in 
northern  Japan,  where  the  existence  of  this  species  seems  to 
be  established  beyond  question. 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL   PARK. 


127 


EUROPEAN  BROWN  BEAR. 
Two   cubs  are  nursing. 

The  Japanese  Black  Bear,  (Ursus  japonicus),  from  north- 
ern Japan,  is  one  of  the  smallest  of  living  bears,  being  only 
slightly  larger  than  the  Malay  sun  bear.  In  general  ap- 
pearance it  suggests  a  small  edition  of  the  American  black 
bear.  The  first  specimen  exhibited  at  the  Zoological  Park 
was  very  good-natured,  but  all  these  received  since  are 
nervous  and  irritable,  and  also  very  timid. 

The  Sloth  Bear,  (Ursus  labiatus),  often  called  the  Long- 
Lipped  Bear,  can  be  recognized  as  far  as  it  can  be  seen  by  its 
shaggy  mop  of  enormously  long,  black  hair,  its  white  muz- 
zle, and  its  very  long,  white  claws.  It  is  a  creature  of  many 
peculiarities.  It  inhabits  India  generally  in  forest  regions. 
This  is  Kipling's  "Baloo." 

LIST  OF   BEARS  IN  THE  ZOOLOGICAL   PARK. 
April  1,  1913. 


2  Polar  Bears Ursus 

2  Yakutat  Bears Ursus  dcdli 

1  Peninsula  Bear Ursus  gyas 

1  Admiralty  Bear Ursus  eulophus 

3  Kadiak  Bears Ursus  middendorffi 

1  Kobuk  Brown  Bear.  . .  Undetermined , 

1  Grizzly  Bear Ursus  horribili* 


1  Spectacled  Bear Ursus  ornatns 

1  Andean  Black  Bear. . .  Ursus  ornatus  thomasi. 


Ellesmere  Land. 

Alaska. 

Alaska  Peninsula. 

Adm.   Is.,  Alaska. 

Kadiak  Island. 

Kobuk  River,  AL 

Colorado. 

Yukon  Terr. 

Wyoming. 

Equador. 

Columbia,  S.  A. 


128  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

1  Black   Bear  ...........  Uraus  americanus  ......  ff°m 


1 

3      " 

1       «  « 

•.       «  « 

1  Cinnamon  Bear 
1 


1  Syrian  Bear Ursus  syriacus 

3  Brown  Bears Ursus  arctos 

2  Hairy-Eared  Bears. . .  .  Ursus  piscator 

1  Himalayan  Black  Bear.  Ursus  torquatus 

1  Japanese  Bear Ursus  japonicus 

1  Sloth  Bear Ursus  labiatus 

2  Yezo  Bears Ursus  ferox 

1  Malay  Sun  Bear Ursus  malayanus Borneo. 


Virginia. 

Alaska. 

West  Ontario. 

Mexico. 

Colorado. 

Wyoming. 

Asiatic  Turkey. 

Central  Russia. 

N.  W.  Mongolia. 

Japan. 

Japan. 

India. 

Yezo,  Japan. 


36  specimens,  representing  18  species. 

The  Malay  Sun  Bear,  (Ursus  malayanus),  is  the  smallest 
bear  in  the  world,  also  the  ugliest  and  the  most  ill-tempered. 
When  fully  enraged,  it  sometimes  barks  like  a  dog.  Its  hair 
is  very  short  and  close,  and  its  head  and  feet  seem  to  be  too 
large  for  its  body.  This  species  inhabits  Borneo,  Sumatra, 
the  Malay  Peninsula  and  Farther  India.  Two  specimens  will 
be  found  in  the  Small-Mammal  House. 

THE  RACCOON  TREE.  - 

The  Raccoon  Tree. — A  permanent  installation  for  Rac- 
coons has  been  established  near  the  southern  end  of  the 
Bear  Dens,  where  its  inmates  will  be  near  their  plantigrade 
relatives.  At  the  foot  of  the  steps  leading  down  from  the 
Rocking  Stone,  a  cedar-tree,  forty  feet  in  height,  has  been 
enclosed  by  an  elliptical  iron  fence  provided  with  a  sheet- 
metal  overhang  which  is  not  negotiable  by  any  Procyon. 
Inside  the  fence  is  a  dry  yard,  a  pool  of  water  for  all 
purposes,  and  the  trunk  of  the  tree  is  surrounded  by  a 
rustic  shelter  house,  divided  into  ten  warm  and  dry  com- 
partments. Underneath  the  house  is  a  clean  and  smooth 
wooden  floor,  on  which  the  food  is  served. 

The  smooth,  horizontal  limbs  of  a  cedar-tree  are  grateful 
and  comforting  to  a  dozing  Raccoon,  and  the  tree  is  not  so 
high  that  the  animals  can  climb  beyond  the  visual  power  of 
the  visitor. 

THE  BEAVER  POND,  No.  29. 

Hidden  away  in  the  deep  valley  between  high  hills  of 
virgin  forest  lies  the  Beaver  Pond.  The  spot  is  so  secluded, 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  129 

so  silent  and  primeval,  that  it  seems  like  the  heart  of  the 
Adirondack  wilderness.  Lying  fairly  in  the  lap  of  the 
granite  hills  is  a  three-acre  oval  of  level  swamp,  which 
recently  was  full  of  woodland  rubbish  and  choked  by  rank 
weeds.  The  seclusion  of  the  spot,  the  splendid  forest,  the 
food-wood  and  the  possibilities  of  the  dam,  all  naturally 
suggested  the  beaver. 

In  order  that  the  building  of  a  dam  by  the  beavers  would 
not  raise  the  water  level  so  high  as  to  flood  the  roots  of  a 
number  of  fine  forest  trees  and  destroy  them,  two  feet  of 
soil  was  taken  out  of  the  swamp,  and  at  the  same  time  a 
broad  outlet  was  excavated.  A  fence  of  small  iron  bars, 
with  an  overhang,  was  designed  to  encircle  an  area  of  about 
three  acres.  Within  the  enclosure  thus  made,  stand  several 
large  forest  trees — chiefly  oak,  sweet  gum,  and  maple — 
which  have  been  protected  by  guards  of  wire  and  cor- 
rugated iron.  The  small  maples,  however,  have  been  given 
over  to  the  beavers,  to  cut  down  and  use  as  food-wood  and 
also  in  their  dam-building  operations. 

The  Beaver  Colony  in  our  pond  is  in  good  working  order, 
and  its  display  of  work  makes  a  highly  satisfactory  exhibit. 
The  dam,  about  40  feet  long  and  4  feet  high,  was  built  of 
poles  and  sticks  which  were  cut,  peeled,  floated  down  and 
placed  by  the  beavers,  and  pointed  up  with  mud.  There  is 
a  house  10  feet  in  diameter  and  4  feet  high,  similarly  con- 
structed. Within  the  enclosure  about  twenty  saplings  and 
trees  have  been  cut  down  by  the  beavers  and  used  up  for 
food  and  building  materials. 

For  this  colony  the  Society  is  indebted  to  Mr.  Hugh  J. 
Chisholm,  who  procured  for  it  two  specimens  from  Canada 
and  three  from  Maine. 

The  American  Beaver,  (Castor  canade-nsis],  is  a  remark- 
able animal.  In  original  thought  it  is  equalled  by  few  ani- 
mals, and  in  industry  by  none.  With  the  possible  exception 
of  the  porcupine,  it  is  the  largest  gnawing  animal  in  North 
America,  once  was  widely  distributed,  and  its  beautiful  fur 
has  been  in  demand  ever  since  the  days  of  the  colonists. 
Unfortunately,  the  Beaver's  intelligence  was  directed  chiefly 
to  the  building  of  dams,  canals,  and  houses,  and  procuring 
an  abundant  supply  of  food-wood,  rather  than  in  providing 
itself  with  means  of  escape  from  its  arch  enemy — the  man 
with  a  steel  trap.  Because  of  the  constant  demand  for  its 
fur,  this  animal  has  been  so  nearly  exterminated  throughout 
the  United  States  that  practically  none  remains  save  where 


130  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

they  are  rigidly  protected.  At  present  the  largest  colonies 
known  are  those  in  the  Yellowstone  Park,  although  in  Can- 
ada and  the  Northwest  many  still  remain. 

The  most  wonderful  thing  about  the  Beaver  is  the  manner 
in  which  he  builds  dams,  to  make  ponds  deep  enough  for 
his  timber-floating  operations,  and  to  afford  him  a  sub- 
marine passage  to  his  house.  Give  him  a  valley  and  a 
stream  of  water,  and  he  will  gladly  make  a  pond  out  of 
whatever  raw  materials  are  at  hand.  He  uses  the  four-foot 
sticks  from  which  he  has  eaten  the  bark  for  food,  and  with 
these,  and  an  abundance  of  mud,  he  will  raise  a  good  strong 
dam  to  a  height  of  four  feet,  and  a  width  on  the  ground  of 
ten  feet  or  more.  The  mud  used  is  dug  out  of  the  bottom 
and  sides  of  his  pond,  and  carried,  while  swimming,  be- 
tween his  paws,  with  his  front  feet  holding  it  against  his 
breast.  The  sticks  used  in  the  dam  are  thrust  endwise  into 
the  mud  on  top  of  the  dam,  and  the  mud  used  is  patted 
down  with  his  fore  feet.  The  tail  is  not  used  as  a  trowel, 
but  in  swimming  it  is  the  Beaver's  propeller. 

In  captivity  the  Beaver  is  not  wholly  a  satisfactory  animal. 
Like  some  human  craftsmen,  he  positively  declines  to  work 
under  observation,  and  performs  nearly  all  his  tasks  at 
night.  He  thinks  nothing  of  gnawing  down  a  tree  a  foot 
In  diameter,  and  cutting  its  limbs  into  pieces  which  he  can 
handle  while  swimming.  If  he  can  secure  enough  food- 
wood  of  kinds  of  his  liking,  he  eats  little  else.  Besides 
building  dams  to  create  ponds  in  which  he  can  take  refuge 
when  hard  pressed,  he  constructs  canals,  and  houses  for 
winter  use.  He  also  digs  burrows  into  high  banks ;  but  his 
entrances  to  his  various  homes  always  are  under  water. 

THE  ECONOMIC  RODENT-REPTILE  COLLECTION. 

As  an  answer  to  a  frequent  question — "Of  what  use  are 
reptiles?" — a  new  collection  has  been  installed  in  the 
Reptile  House.  It  is  supplied  with  descriptive  labels,  and 
serves  several  purposes.  In  the  first  place  there  is  presented 
an  elaborate  series  of  the  small  gnawing  animals,  or  rodents, 
a  number  of  the  species  of  which  are  highly  injurious  to  the 
interests  of  agriculturists;  secondly,  the  exhibition  contains 
a  large  series  of  those  species  of  snakes  that  prey  upon  the 
destructive  rodents, — thus  presenting  for  observation  the 
serpents* of  marked  economic  value.  Finally,  the  entire 
Beries  stands  as  a  clear  demonstration  of  the  perfect  logic  of 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL   PARK. 


131 


BRAZILIAN  TREE   PORCUPINE. 

Nature  in  which  the  production  of  all  animal  life  is  care- 
fully balanced;  for  a  part  of  the  exhibition  is  composed  of 
representative  species  of  mammals  that,  in  turn,  prey  upon 
the  serpents,  thus  keeping  even  the  destroyers  of  the  smaller 
injurious  creatures  within  bounds ! 

During  the  past  two  years  the  collection  of  rodents  has 
been  steadily  growing  in  importance.  The  following  is  a 
list  of  the  species  on  exhibition  at  the  close  of  the  year  1912 : 

RODENTS   IN  THE   ZOOLOGICAL   PARK. 

HARES    AND    RABBITS    (Leporidae) 

Mexican   Swamp    Rabbit Lepus  paJustris. 

Cotton-Tail   Rabbit Lepus  palustris  mallurut. 

Domestic  Rabbits,  various  breeds (Nursery  stock.) 

SQUIRRELS   AND    MARMOTS    (Sduridae) 

Thirteen-Lined    Spermophile Spermophilus  13-lineatui. 

Desert   Spermophile Spermophilus     leucurut. 

Richardson    Spermophile Spermophilus  richardsoni. 

Woodchuck    A  rctomys  monax. 

Prairie    Dog Cynomys  ludovicianus. 

European    Squirrel Sciurus  vulgaris. 

Mexican   Squirrel Sciurus  aureogaster. 

Central  American  Squirrel Sciurus  variabilis. 

Cuban  Squirrel Sciurus  chrysurus. 

Variable    Squirrel Sciunts  griseo-flavus. 

Gray   Squirrel Sciurus  carolinensis. 

Black  Squirrel Sciurus  carolinensis  niger. 


132  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

Fox  Squirrel Sciurus  ludoviciawus. 

White-Headed   Squirrel Sciurus  macrouroides. 

Malabar  Squirrel Sciurus  malabaricus. 

Chipmunk    Tamias  striatus. 

African  Ground  Squirrel Xerus  capensis. 

Flying  Squirrel Sciuropterus  volant. 

BEAVERS  (Castoridae) 

American    Bearer Castor  canadensif.. 

KANGAROO  RATS  (Heteromyidae) 

Kangaroo  Rat Dipodomys  merriami. 

POCKET  GOPHERS  (Geomyidae) 
Harsh-Coated  Pocket  Gopher Geomys  hispidus. 

DORMICE  (Gliridae) 

Squirrel-Tailed    Dormouse Myoxus  glis. 

Lesser    Dormouse Myoxus  dryas. 

English  Dormouse Muscardinus  avellanariut. 

MICE  AND  RATS  (Muridae) 

Domestic  Mouse — Unusual  Color  Phases Mus  musculut. 

Japanese  Waltzing  Mouse Mus  musculus. 

Black    Rat Mus  rattus. 

Black-and-White    Rat Mus  norwegicus. 

Gray-and-White  Rat Mus  norwegicus. 

Porcupine    Mouse A  corny s  cahirinut. 

Egyptian   Gerbille... Gerbillus  pyramidum. 

Muskrat Fiber  zibethicus. 

Cotton  Rat Sigmodon  hispidus. 

JERBOAS  (Dipodidae) 
Greater  Jerboa   Dipus  aegyptius. 

COYPU  AND  SPINY  RATS     (OctodonUdae) 

Coypu  Rat   Myocastor  coypu. 

Hutia :  Cuban  Tree  Rat Capromys  pilorides. 

Short-Tailed   Hutia    Capromys  browni. 

PORCUPINES  (Hysiricidae) 

Canada  Porcupine    Erethizon  dorsatus. 

Brazilian  Porcupine   Sphingurus  prehensilit. 

African  Porcupine   Hystrix  cristata. 

VISCACHAS  AND  CHINCHILLAS  (ChinchilUdae) 
Viscacha    Lagostoma  trichodactylut. 

AGOUTIS  (Dasyproctidae) 

Golden  Agouti  Dasyprocta  agouti 

Gray  Agouti  Dasyprocta  prymnolopha. 

CAVIES  (Caviidae) 

Domestic  Cavy Cavia  porcellus. 

Capybara Hydrochaerus  capybara. 

Patagonian  Cavy  Dolichotis  patagonica. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


133 


MUTE   AND   TRUMPETER   SWANS. 


SECTION  II.— BIRDS. 
THE  GOOSE  AVIARY,  No.  3. 

There  are  no  birds  which  take  more  kindly  to  captivity, 
or  which  better  repay  their  keep  and  their  keepers,  than  the 
ducks,  geese,  swans  and  pelicans.  The  only  drawback  to 
the  maintenance  of  large  collections  of  these  birds  in  this 
latitude  is  the  annual  struggle  with  our  arctic  winter.  On 
account  of  the  fierce  winter  storms  to  which  we  must  pay 
tribute,  many  species  of  swimming  birds  require  to  be  taken 
out  of  their  aviary,  and  housed  in  sheltered  buildings,  with 
moderate  warmth.  For  this  reason  the  pelicans,  tree-ducks 
of  all  species,  and  all  species  from  the  tropics,  must  neces- 
sarily be  absent  in  winter  from  their  summer  quarters. 

For  the  accommodation  of  a  large,  systematic  collection  of 
wild  geese,  an  aviary  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long  by 
one  hundred  and  forty-three  feet  in  width  has  been  con- 
structed in  the  north  end  of  Bird  Valley.  To  secure  as  much 
space  as  possible,  the  entire  width  of  the  open  valley  has 
been  taken  into  the  enclosure. 

The  Goose  Aviary  consists  of  a  pond  containing  three 
islands,  two  of  which  are  subdivided  by  low  fences  of  wire 
netting  into  twelve  separate  enclosures.  The  collection  of 
geese  has  become  so  large  and  important  the  original  Duck 


134  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

Aviary  has  been  taken  for  it,  and  the  Ducks  will  hereafter 
be  found  on  the  Wild-Fowl  Pond  and  in  the  Flying  Cage. 

The  Geese. — The  collection  of  wild  geese,  in  the  Goose 
Aviary,  is  unusually  large,  there  being  generally  about 
twenty  out  of  the  thirty-five  known  species.  Among  these 
one  of  the  best  known  is  the  Common  Wild,  or  Canada 
Goose,  (Branta  canadensis}.  Once  common  throughout 
many  parts  of  the  United  States,  continual  persecution  by 
sportsmen  and  market  hunters  has  so  generally  reduced  its 
numbers  that  now  it  is  of  comparatively  rare  occurrence. 

This  exceeding  rarity  made  the  arrival  of  nine  superb  wild 
specimens  on  November  8,  1900,  on  the  Wild-Fowl  Pond,  a 
most  interesting  event.  Seven  of  the  birds,  including  a  fine 
gander,  through  the  artifice  of  a  trap,  were  induced  to  re- 
main with  us,  and  have  taken  up  a  peaceful  abode  on  the 
little  lake,  with  others  of  their  kind  presented  by  Mr.  A.  B. 
Frost. 

The  African  Spur-Winged  Goose,  (Plectropterus  garnben- 
sis),  although  of  large  size,  is  more  properly  a  duck  than  a 
goose.  A  long  sharp  spur  arises  from  the  bend  of  each 
wing,  which  the  birds  use  in  fighting  with  each  other  for 
their  mates. 

The  Gray-Lag  Goose,  (Anser  anser),  is,  perhaps,  the 
most  interesting  of  all  geese,  as  being  the  wild  species  from 
which  our  domestic  birds  are  descended.  The  white  color 
and  large  size  are  the  chief  differences  between  the  domestic 
and  wild  birds. 

The  White-Fronted  Goose,  (Anser  albifrons),  is  worthy  of 
special  notice  because  it  is  the  handsomest  of  the  ten  species 
of  North  American  geese.  The  breeding  grounds  are  far 
to  the  north,  and  in  Alaska  the  nests  are  mere  hollows  in 
the  sand,  lined  with  moss  and  down. 

The  Bar-Headed  Goose,  (Eulabia  indica),  inhabits  the 
mountains  of  Central  Asia,  nesting  always  over  a  mile  above 
the  sea.  It  is  perhaps  the  handsomest  of  all  geese. 

The  Swans.— Usually  at  least  six  out  of  the  seven  known 
species  of  swans  may  be  seen  on  exhibition  here. 

The  Mute  Swan,  (Cygnus  olor),  is  the  commonest  swan  in 
captivity,  and  is  the  one  made  famous  in  European  history 
and  legend.  It  may  always  be  known  from  the  other  spe- 
cies by  _  the  black  knob  at  the  base  of  the  bill.  It  breeds 
freely  in  captivity  and  the  young  birds  are  known  as 
cygnets. 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  135 

The  Trumpeter  Swan,  (Cygnus  buccinator),  being  the  larg- 
est bird  in  the  aviary,  and  also  snowy  white,  is  therefore 
the  most  conspicuous.  Several  fine  specimens  are  shown  on 
the  North  Island,  living  contentedly  with  other  species. 
Some  of  these  specimens  were  captured  in  Idaho,  when 
young  enough  to  take  kindly  to  captivity. 

The  Black  Swan,  (Chenopsis  atrata),  of  South  / -\stralia 
and  Tasmania,  is  as  glossy  black,  excepting  its  pi ;  maries, 
as  other  swans  are  white.  It  is  a  large  and  handsome  bird, 
and  much  sought  by  all  persons  who  form  collections  of 
water  fowl. 

The  Coscoroba  Goose,  (Coscorc<ba  coscoroba),  is  a  fair  con- 
necting link  between  the  swans  and  the  ducks,  partaking 
about  equally  of  the  characters  of  each.  In  size  and  color 
it  is  very  much  like  our  snow  goose,  (Chen  hypcrborea),  but 
it  is  peculiar  in  possessing  very  long  legs  of  a  bright  pink 
color,  by  which  it  is  quickly  recognized.  Its  bill,  also  is 
pink,  and  the  tips  of  its  primaries  are  black.  The  Coscoroba 
Goose  is  a  native  of  southern  South  America,  and  a  few  years 
ago  specimens  were  so  rare  in  captivity  that  a  pair  sold 
for  $300. 

THE  FLYING  CAGE,  No.  4. 

This  mammoth  bird-cage  is  one  of  the  wonders  of  the 
Zoological  Park.  It  represents  an  attempt  to  do  for  certain 
large  and  showy  water  birds,  precisely  what  has  been  done 
for  the  hoofed  animals,  the  beaver,  otter,  and  other  spe- 
cies— give  them  a  section  of  Nature's  own  domain.  In  this 
they  can  fly  to  and  fro,  build  nests  and  rear  their  young  in 
real  freedom. 

Near  the  lower  end  of  Bird  Vally,  as  a  sort  of  climax 
for  the  Goose  Aviary  when  seen  from  the  north,  rises  a  lofty, 
web-like  structure,  in  the  form  of  a  huge,  gothic  arch.  It  is 
55  feet  in  height,  75  feet  wide,  and  152  feet  long.  The 
whole  structure  consists  of  a  series  of  steel-pipe  arches  and 
purlins,  the  former  eight  feet  apart,  over  which  wire-netting 
has  been  tightly  stretched. 

The  wire-netting  seems  peculiarly  open.  It  is  of  the  kind 
known  as  chain-netting,  which  offers  the  least  possible 
obstruction  to  the  eye.  This  cage  is  so  large  that  a  very 
respectable  block  of  houses,  three  stories  high  and  of  ample 
dimensions,  could  stand  within  it  without  touching  the  wire. 
It.  completely  encloses  three  forest  trees  of  very  consid'"*- 


136 


POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


CEREOPSIS    GEESE. 

able  size,  two  hickories  and  an  oak;  and  it  contains  a  pool 
of  water  a  hundred  feet  long,  and  shrubbery  in  abundance. 

The  idea  of  a  very  large  cage  for  herons  and  egrets,  is  not 
new,  for  there  are  in  existence  several  other  flying  cages, 
somewhat  smaller  than  this.  The  first  was  erected  in  the 
Rotterdam  Zoological  Garden  by  its  Director,  the  late  Dr. 
A.  Von  Bemmelin,  whose  experiment  proved  very  successful. 
Others  are  at  London  and  in  Paris  Jardin  d'Acclimata- 
tion. 

The  Flying  Cage  is  the  summer  home  of  a  mixed  flock  of 
such  large  and  showy  water  birds  as  are  most  inclined  to 
fly  about  within  it,  and  afford  students  and  the  public  an 
opportunity  to  study  their  movements  and  attitudes.  Save 
for  such  allowances  as  must  be  made  for  accidents  and 
epidemics,  this  enclosure  will  contain  the  following  note- 
worthy species,  along  with  others  of  less  importance : 

The  American  Flamingo,  (Phoenicopterus  rnbcr),  is,  in 
appearance,  a  connecting  link  between  the  herons  and 
ducks,  resembling  the  former  in  the  great  length  of  its  legs, 
and  the  latter  in  the  duck-like  bill  and  webbed  feet.  When 
the  plumage  of  this  speeds  is  perfect,  it  is  of  a  beautiful 
scarlet  color  throughout,  excepting  the  primaries,  which 
are  black.  In  captivity,  the  color  fades  somewhat.  This 
bird  is  found  in  the  Bahama  Islands  and  Cuba,  but  in  Flor- 
ida, where  once  it  was  fairly  numerous,  it  no  longer  exists. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  137 


WHITE-FACED  GLOSSY  IBIS.  ROSEATE     SPOONBILL. 

Fortunately,  this  remarkable  bird  takes  kindly  to  captivity, 
and  the  Zoological  Park  is  never  without  a  good-sized  flock. 
Their  strange  form,  showy  colors  and  droll  attitudes  render 
them  unusually  interesting  to  visitors. 

With  the  birds  of  the  above  species  are  shown  a  few  speci- 
mens of  the  European  Flamingo,  (P.  roscus),  which  is  al- 
most white.  The  only  parts  which  show  the  characteristic 
scarlet  of  this  genus,  are  the  wing  coverts,  which  are  pale 
red,  or  pink. 

The  Scarlet  Ibis,  (Guara  rubra),  is  for  its  size  the  most 
showy  bird  in  existence,  not  even  excepting  the  birds  of 
paradise.  Excepting  the  black  primaries,  every  feather  on 
the  adult  bird  in  perfect  plumage  is  of  a  brilliant  Chinese 
vermilion  color,  visible  in  nature  for  a  long  distance.  The 
immature  birds  are  mottled  and  patched  with  white.  This 
species  once  came  as  far  north  as  southern  Florida,,  but  now 
it  is  found  only  from  Cuba  southward.  They  frequent  the 
mud  banks  at  the  various  mouths  of  the  Orinoco,  and  not 
long  since  were  quite  abundant  on  the  coast  of  British 
Guiana. 

The  White-Faced  Glossy  Ibis,  (Plegadis  guarauna),  is  not 
a  rare  bird  in  captivity,  and  it  will  doubtless  be  possible  to 
maintain  this  species  perpetually  in  the  Flying  Cage  and 
Aquatic-Bird  House. 

The  Wood  Ibis,  (Tantalus  loculator). — The  Park  obtains 
its  supply  of  birds  of  this  species  from  Florida,  where  they 
breed,  in  very  greatly  reduced  numbers,  on  the  headwaters 
of  the  St.  Johns.  This  bird  is  a  very  satisfactory  member  of 
avian  society.  Although  amply  large  to  lord  it  over  the 


138  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

other  birds  of  the  cage,  he  quarrels  with  none,  but  peace- 
fully goes  his  way,  feeling  with  the  point  of  his  beak  along 
the  sandy  bottom  of  the  pool  for  something  edible,  or  stand- 
ing in  quiet  meditation  on  the  bank.  Notwithstanding  its 
common  name,  this  bird  is  not  an  ibis,  but  a  true  stork.  In 
its  black  and  white  plumage  it  is  quite  a  handsome  bird. 
Although  not  so  fond  of  using  its  wings  in  captivity  as  are 
herons  and  egrets,  the  Wood  Ibis  is  for  many  reasons  a  very 
welcome  tenant. 

The  White  Stork,  (Ciconia  ciconia),  is  as  large  as  our 
wood  ibis,  which  it  strongly  resembles  in  form  and  habits. 
This  bird  is  literally  the  household  bird  of  Germany,  and  its 
place  in  the  family  has  now  become  of  more  importance 
than  its  place  in  nature.  Throughout  Holland,  Germany, 
and  very  nearly  the  whole  of  eastern  and  central  Europe, 
the  "White  Stork  is  so  prized  and  protected  by  the  people 
that  it  has  attained  a  state  of  semi-domestication.  Nesting 
places  are  prepared  for  it,  usually  near  or  even  upon  human 
habitations,  and  it  enjoys  an  immunity  from  molestation 
quite  like  that  of  the  adjutant  in  India. 

The  Great  Blue  Heron,  (Ardea  herodias),  is  frequently 
called  the  "blue  crane";  but  the  latter  name  is  a  misnomer. 
It  properly  belongs  to  our  sandhill  crane  (Cms  canadensis). 
Just  why  so  large  a  number  of  people  should  be  so  persis- 
tent in  this  error  is  a  psychological  problem;  but  the  fact 
remains  that  people  will  not  say  "heron." 

This  Great  Blue  Heron  is  the  largest  and  most  noteworthy 
bird  of  our  northern  marshes.  Thanks  to  the  fact  that  it 
bears  no  desirable  "plumes,"  and  its  flesh  is  not  edible,  it 
has  been  permitted  to  live.  When  not  molested,  it  becomes 
quite  trustful,  and  when  wading  along  a  shore,  fishing  for 
minnows,  it  affords  for  the  field-glass  or  the  camera  a  very 
interesting  subject.  In  summer  these  birds  are  quite  numer- 
ous in  the  marshes  along  the  Shrewsbury  River,  between 
Sandy  Hook  and  Long  Branch,  and  they  are  an  unfailing 
source  of  interest  to  excursionists.  It  is  sincerely  to  be 
hoped  that  the  evil  eye  of  "Dame  Fashion"  will  not  fall 
upon  this  bird,  and  cause  its  extermination. 

The  Great  White  Heron,  (Ardea  americana) ,  is  taller  than 
the  great  blue  heron,  and  it  is  the  largest  of  all  the  white 
herons  and  egrets.  Like  the  whooping  crane,  it  is  now  a 
bird  of  such  exceeding  rarity  that  the  procuring  of  a  speci- 
men may  be  counted  a  stroke  of  good  fortune.  In  eight 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  139 

years  the  Zoological  Park  has  secured  only  three  specimens, 
all  of  which  came  from  southern  Florida. 

The  Little  Blue  Heron,  (Florida  caerulea}. — The  imma- 
ture birds  of  this  species  are  snowy  white,  and  so  closely 
resemble  snowy  herons  of  the  same  age,  that  only  one  well 
acquainted  with  both  can  distinguish  between  them.  They 
are,  however,  separately  recognized  by  the  fact  that  the 
snowy  heron  has  black  legs,  and  a  black  bill,  whereas  the 
legs  and  bill  of  the  Little  Blue  Heron  are  pale  yellow.  This 
species  is  still  common  in  some  parts  of  its  Florida  home, 
and  occasionally  a  specimen  strays  as  far  north  as  Staten 
Island. 

The  Louisiana  Heron  (Hydranassa  tricolor  ruficollis),  once 
very  numerous  in  Florida,  is  still  found  there,  but  in  greatly 
reduced  numbers.  It  ranges  from  Central  America  and  the 
West  Indies  northward  to  the  Gulf  States,  and  occasionally 
to  Long  Island.  The  general  coloring  is  dark  blue,  but  a 
prominent  distinguishing  character  is  the  chestnut  brown 
on  the  sides  of  the  neck. 

The  Black-Crowned  Night  Heron,  (Nycticora.v  nycticora.r 
naevius),  is  one  of  the  commonest  herons  about  New  York 
City  and  occasionally  nests  in  the  Park  itself.  It  breeds  in 
large  colonies,  and  feeds  chiefly  at  night.  Its  note  is  a 
hoarse  quok,  very  much  like  the  bark  of  a  dog. 

The  Snowy  Heron,  or  Snowy  Egret,  (Egretta  candidis- 
sima),  when  fully  adult,  is  the  most  beautiful  white  bird  in 
all  the  avian  world.  Its  form  is  the  embodiment  of  sym- 
metry and  grace,  its  plumage  is  immaculate,  and  the  filmy 
"plumes"  on  its  head  and  back  are  like  spun  glass.  Its 
black  legs  and  bill  merely  serve  to  intensify  the  whiteness 
of  its  feathers.  The  vanity  of  woman  has  been  the  curse  of 
the  Snowy  Egret.  Its  plumes  are  finest  during  the  breeding 
season,  and  it  was  then  that  the  hunters  sought  them, 
slaughtering  the  old  birds  in  the  rookeries  by  thousands 
(when  they  were  abundant),  and  leaving  the  nestlings  to 
die  of  starvation.  If  all  women  could  know  the  price  in 
blood  and  suffering  which  is  paid  for  the  accursed  "aig- 
rettes" of  fashion,  surely  but  few  could  find  any  pleasure 
in  wearing  them.  It  is  strange  that  civilized  woman — the 
tender-hearted,  the  philanthropic,  and  the  ever-compassion- 
ate— should  prove  to  be  the  evil  genius  of  the  world's  most 
beautiful  birds. 

In  the  United  States  the  Snowy  Egret  now  exists  only  by 
accident,  and  the  "nlume  hunters"  are  nu railing  this 


140 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


BROWN  AND  WHITE  PELICANS. 

the  following  species  in  Central  and  South  America,  to  their 
most  remote  haunts,  sometimes  even  at  the  risk  of  their 
lives.  Fashion  has  decreed  that  the  egrets  must  go. 

The  American  Egret,  (Herodias  egretta). — Much  to  the 
misfortune  of  this  species,  it  possesses  about  fifty  ' '  aigrette ' ' 
plumes  which  droop  in  graceful  curves  from  the  middle  of 
its  back  far  beyond  the  tail  and  wing  tips.  For  these  beau- 
tiful feathers  this  bird  has  been  pursued  by  plume  hunters 
almost  to  the  point  of  total  extermination  in  the  United 
States. 

The  White  Pelican,  (Pelecanus  erythrorhynchos),  is  one  of 
the  largest  birds  of  North  America  and  by  reason  of  its 
size,  its  pure  white  plumage,  its  enormously  long  amber- 
colored  bill  and  gular  pouch,  it  is  one  of  the  most  showy 
birds  in  the  aviary.  As  consumers  of  fish  they  stand  pre- 
eminent among  birds,  and  their  only  rivals  in  the  Park  are 
the  sea-lions.  The  specimens  exhibited  were  collected  for  the 
Society  in  southern  Texas. 

The  Brown  Pelican,  (Pelecanus  occidcntalis},  when  adult, 
is  a  handsome  and  showy  bird,  and  one  which  not  only  is 
easily  reconciled  to  life  in  a  comfortable  aviary,  but  posi- 
tively enjoys  it.  The  specimens  in  our  collection  were  col- 
lected for  the  Society  on  Pelican  Island,  Florida,  and  their 
interesting  home  life  at  that  place  may  be  studied  from  the 
series  of  photographs  on  exhibition  in  the  Aquatic  Bird 
House.  When  their  daily  allowance  of  fish  appears  they 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  141 

crowd  around  their  keeper,   and  with  wide-open  pouches 
earnestly  solicit  contributions. 

THE  AQUATIC  BIRD  HOUSE,  No.  5. 

This  building  is  the  result  of  an  attempt  to  solve  an  old 
problem  in  a  new  way — the  care  of  large  migratory  water 
birds  in  the  most  uneven  winter  climate  on  earth.  In  com- 
parison with  the  care  in  winter  of  flamingoes,  large  herons, 
egrets,  ibises,  and  the  like,  the  housing  of  perching  birds, 
birds  of  prey  and  the  parrots,  presents  few  difficulties.  But 
the  wealth  of  fine  water  birds  in  North  America  alone,  and 
the  interest  attaching  to  them,  seem  to  justify  the  labor 
and  expense  that  have  been  involved  in  this  building  and 
its  appointments.  Practically  all  of  the  birds  to  be  seen  in 
this  building  in  winter  are  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this 
volume. 

THE  OWL  CAGES.— After  the  completion  of  the  Eagle 
and  Vulture  Aviary,  the  ten  large  cages  on  the  exterior  of 
the  Aquatic-Bird  House,  which  have  been  occupied  tempo- 
rarily by  the  birds  of  prey,  will  be  used  for  the  owl  collec- 
tion. 

The  Giant  Eagle  Owl,  (Bubo  bubo],  is  a  true  giant  among 
the  owls.  It  is  found  throughout  continental  Europe,  keep- 
ing mostly  to  the  deep  forests,  and  feeding  on  grouse,  rab- 
bits, etc.  It  is  unusually  long-lived  in  captivity,  and  breeds 
freely. 

The  Milky  Eagle  Owl,  (Bubo  lacteus),  has  the  same  gen- 
eral characters  as  its  congener,  but  its  feathers  are  of  a 
beautiful,  soft  gray.  It  is  very  rare  in  collections. 

The  Great  Horned  Owl,  (Bubo  rirginianus) . — These  noc- 
turnal birds  of  prey  inhabit  heavily  wooded  regions,  feed- 
ing on  mice,  and  poultry  when  it  is  obtainable.  The  bright 
yellow  iris,  the  conspicuous  feather  horns,  and  the  appar- 
ently pivoted  neck  are  curious  features  of  these  birds. 
Their  reputation  for  wisdom  is  founded  only  on  their  ex- 
ternal appearance,  for  in  reality  they  are  rather  dull  birds. 

The  Snowy  Owl,  (Nyctea  nyctea),  of  the  Arctic  regions, 
migrating  in  winter  to  the  northern  United  States,  some- 
times remains  for  several  seasons  in  succession  so  far  north 
that  no  specimens  are  obtainable.  During  1899,  1900,  and 
the  first  half  of  1901,  not  one  specimen  could  be  procured, 
but  in  the  late  autumn  of  1901  a  southward  migration  be- 


142 

• 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


GREAT   HORNED   OWL. 


SPECTACLED   OWL. 


gan.  On  June  1,  1911,  the  Park  exhibited  six  fine  speci- 
mens, one  of  which  was  almost  pure  white.  During  the 
three  hottest  months  of  summer,  these  birds  would  suffer 
considerably,  so  during  this  period  they  are  confined  in  a 
cool,  dark  cellar,  thus  keeping  in  perfect  health  and  comfort 
throughout  the  year. 

The  Screech  Owl,  (Otus  asio). — This  little  horned  owl  is 
our  commonest  species,  and  frequents  the  neighborhood  of 
dwellings  and  orchards.  Being  nocturnal  it  is  more  com- 
mon than  is  generally  supposed,  and  its  curious  cry,  which 
is  not  a  screech,  but  a  musical,  quavering  series  of  notes,  is 
the  cause  most  frequently  leading  to  its  discovery.  Its  two 
phases  of  plumage,  red  and  gray,  occur  independently  of 
sex,  age  or  season.  Its  food  consists  of  mice  and  insects. 

The  Barred  Owl,  (Syrnium  varium}. — This  owl  is  more 
diurnal  than  its  nearest  relatives,  and  often  hunts  its  prey 
in  bright  moonshine.  Its  deep,  penetrating  call,  "woo-o-o. 
whoo-o-o,"  is  one  of  the  most  weird  and  striking  cries  of  the 
bird  world.  Another  peculiarity,  common  to  all  owls,  but 
more  noticeable  in  this  less  nocturnal  species,  is  the  absolute- 
ly noiseless  flight.  The  soft,  downy  feathers  of  the  owl 
permit  it  to  wing  its  way  through  the  air  with  as  little  noise 
as  a  falling  leaf. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


EARED  VULTURE. 


LAMMERGEYER. 


THE  EAGLE  AND  VULTURE  AVIARY,  No.  11. 

The  Eagle  and  Vulture  Aviary  stands  in  an  open  glade, 
but  well  surrounded  by  forest  trees,  in  Bird  Valley,  be- 
tween the  Aquatic  Bird  House  and  the  new  Zebra  House. 
It  is  a  commodious  and  pleasant  installation,  well  adapted 
to  exhibit  the  Society's  collection  of  rapacious  birds.  Its 
length  over  all  is  210  feet.  It  has  seven  very  large  flight 
cages  and  six  smaller  ones.  The  largest  cages  are  24  feet 
wide,  33  feet  deep  and  31  feet  high.  In  the  rear  of  the 
great  wire  structure  will  stand  a  very  comfortable  brick 
building  to  serve  as  a  winter  shelter  for  the  tropical  birds 
of  the  collection;  but  it  will  not  be  open  to  the  public. 

Now  that  our  eagles  and  vultures  are  to  be  brought  to- 
gether, visitors  will  find  that  the  collection  is  a  large  one, 
and  contains  many  fine  species. 

The  Condor,  (Sarcorhantphus  grypJius),  of  the  Andes,  is  the 
largest  of  the  birds  of  prey,  having  a  wing-spread  of  over 
nine  feet.  It  feeds  entirely  on  carrion,  rarely  attacking  liv- 
ing animals.  In  the  male,  the  head  is  adorned  with  a  large 
fleshy  comb,  much  like  that  of  a  barn-yard  cock.  The  So- 
ciety at  present  possesses  several  specimens  of  this  great 
bird. 

The  King  Vulture,  (Gypagus  papa],  is  as  its  proud  name 
implies,  the  one  member  of  the  Vulture  Family  which  really 


144  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

is  clad  in  royal  robes,  and  color-decked  to  match.  Its  range 
extends  from  Mexico  and  Central  America  to  Trinidad  and 
Brazil.  The  visitor  should  not  fail  to  see  this  gorgeously 
caparisoned  body  of  white,  cream-yellow  and  black,  and 
head  of  orange,  purple  and  crimson. 

Black  Vulture,  (Catharista  urubu). — These  ill-favored  but 
very  useful  birds  are  quite  abundant,  and  even  semi-domes- 
ticated, in  some  of  our  southern  cities.  This  is  due  to  the 
protection  accorded  them,  because  of  their  valuable  services 
as  scavengers.  They  are  said  to  devour  every  particle  of 
exposed  organic  refuse,  and  in  a  warm  climate  these  services 
are  of  more  value  than  we  in  the  north  can  realize. 

The  Yellow-Headed  Vulture,  (Cathartcs  urobitinga),  of 
northern  South  America,  is  a  much  handsomer  bird  than 
its  two  preceding  relatives.  It  has  much  the  same  feeding 
habits,  but  is  very  rare  and  delicate  in  captivity. 

The  California  Condor,  (Gymnogyps  calif ornianus) . — This 
is  one  of  the  rarest,  and  to  all  Americans  the  most  interest- 
ing, bird  of  prey  in  the  Park.  The  species  is  confined  to  a 
very  small  area  in  the  rugged  mountains  of  southern  and 
lower  California,  and  beyond  all  doubt,  the  skin-collecting 
ornithologists  will  exterminate  it  within  the  next  twenty 
years,  or  less. 

The  Griffon  Vulture,  (Gyps  pulvus),  and  the  Kolbe  Vul- 
ture, (G.  kcjbi),  are  Old  World  birds  and  although  more 
closely  related  to  the  eagles  than  to  the  vultures  of  the  New 
World,  resemble  the  latter  in  general  habits. 

Differing  strongly  from  its  congeners  in  general  appear- 
ance, is  the  Eared  Vulture,  (Otogyps  auricularis) .  This  rare 
bird  is  a  native  of  North  Africa,  where  it  feeds  on  such  car- 
rion as  it  is  able  to  find.  Its  bare,  wrinkled  head  and  neck 
and  great  bill  give  it  a  decidedly  gruesome  appearance. 

The  Red-Tailed  Hawk,  (Buteo  borealis}.— The  "Hen 
Hawk,"  or  "Chicken  Hawk,"  is  one  of  our  commonest  birds 
of  prey.  It  hardly  merits  its  common  name,  as  its  favorite 
food  is  mice  and  other  small  mammals.  This  is  the  hawk 
seen,  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  going  south  in  flocks,  sometimes 
of  one  hundred  or  more. 

One  of  the  most  splendid  members  of  the  collection  is  the 
Harpy  Eagle,  (Thrasaetus  harpyia),  of  South  America.  -The 
remarkably  large  legs  and  claws  indicate  the  great  strength 
which  enables  the  bird  to  prey  upon  sloths,  monkeys,  and 
other  fairly  large  animals. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


145 

1 


KING  VULTURE. 


BLACK  VULTURE. 


The  Lammergeyer  or  Bearded  Vulture,  (Gypaetus  barba- 
tus) ,  is  now  probably  extinct  in  Europe,  but  is  still  found  in 
parts  of  Asia.  It  feeds  largely  on  lambs. 

A  nearly  cosmopolitan  bird  is  the  Golden  Eagle,  (Aquila 
chrysaetos}.  It  is  equally  at  home  in  the  highlands  of  Scot- 
land and  the  mountains  of  North  America,  nesting  on  the 
highest  cliffs. 

The  Bateleur  Eagle,  of  Africa,  (Helotarsus  ecandatus],  has 
narrowly  missed  the  distinction  of  being  the  most  beautiful 
of  all  birds  of  prey.  Its  plumage  is  charmingly  colored 
but  it  is  out  of  proportion.  Its  tail  is  so  absurdly  short 
that  its  wings  quite  conceal  it,  and  make  it  appear  as  if 
altogether  tailless. 

1 


HARPY   EAGLE. 


GRIFFON  VULTUR] 


146  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

Bald  Eagle,  (Haliaetus  lettcocephalus). — The  appearance 
of  the  adult  Bald  Eagle,  our  National  emblem,  with  its  con- 
spicuous white  head  and  tail,  is  familiar  to  all ;  but  the  im- 
mature birds,  as  shown  by  several  of  the  specimens,  lack  the 
white  in  their  plumage.  These  birds  are  found  usually  near 
water,  and  their  food  is  chiefly  fish.  These  they  sometimes 
catch  for  themselves,  but  if  ospreys  are  found  in  the  vicinity, 
they  are  watched  by  the  eagles,  and  often  robbed  of  their 
hard-earned  prey. 

Perhaps  the  fiercest  among  all  the  hawks  is  the  White 
Gyrfalcon,  (Falco  islandus).  A  native  of  the  far  north,  it 
descends  to  a  more  equable  clime  only  when  forced  to  do 
so  by  scarcity  of  food.  It  is  so  swift  of  wing  that  it  is  able 
to  capture  a  duck  in  full  flight. 

Sea  snakes  form  the  rather  unusual  food  of  the  White- 
Breasted  Sea  Eagle,  (Haliaetus  leucogaster],  of  the  East 
Indies,  while  the  strikingly-colored  Vulturine  Sea  Eagle, 
(Gypokieraje  angolensis],  a  native  of  Africa,  feeds  on  fish, 
crabs,  and  the  fruit  of  the  oil  palm. 

THE  WILD  TURKEY  ENCLOSURE,  No.  33. 

At  the  northern  end  of  Squirrel  Ridge,  where  the  Alli- 
gator Walk  intersects  the  Rodent  Walk,  an  ideal  quarter  of 
an  acre,  of  oak  and  hickory  trees,  underbrush,  and  bare  rock, 
has  been  dedicated  to  the  king  of  game  birds. 

The  Wild  Turkey,  (Meleagris  gallopai'o  sik-estris],  is  a 
bird  of  magnificent  size  and  presence,  and  the  splendid  me- 
tallic luster  of  his  plumage — a  mixture  of  burnished  bronze 
copper,  lapis  lazuli,  and  fire  opal  iridescence — backed  up 
by  a  great  bulk  of  savory  flesh,  all  combine  to  make  this  the 
finest  game  bird  on  earth.  It  was  once  fairly  abundant 
throughout  the  eastern  United  States,  and  still  is  found  in 
Pennsylvania,  southern  Ohio,  Virginia  and  other  southern 
states  as  far  west  as  Texas.  Three  other  species  of  Melea- 
gris are  now  recognized — one  in  Florida,  one  in  southern 
Texas  and  northeastern  Mexico,  and  the  fourth  in  Mexico, 
extending  to  western  Texas  and  Arizona. 

THE  LARGE  BIRD-HOUSE,  No.  7. 

On  the  northwest  quarter  of  Baird  Court  stands  the  larg- 
est and  the  most  generously  equipped  home  for  perching 
birds  now  in  existence.  This  is  not  an  unnecessary  boast, 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  147 


•       WILD    TURKEY. 

but  merely  a  .brief  statement  of  a  fact  which  the  visitor  has 
a  right  to  know.  It  was  designed  on  our  long-established 
principle  that  every  captive  wild  creature  is  entitled  to 
lif^,  exercise  and  happiness.  Our  principle  of  very  large 
cages,  with  many  birds  in  each  cage,  is  just  the  reverse  of 
the  views  that  have  prevailed  in  the  older  zoological  gardens, 
even  down  to  the  present  day.  To  an  important  extent,  the 
cage  equipment  of  this  building  represents  a  new  departure. 
There  are  many  zoologists  with  experience  longer  than  ours 
who  believe  that  small  birds  thrive  better  and  live  longer 
when  installed  in  small  cages,  with  only  one  or  two  birds  in 
each. 

The  Large  Bird-House,  specially  designed  for  Passerine 
birds,  was  developed  on  the  strength  of  experiments  pre- 
viously made  in  the  Aquatic-Bird  House,  and  in  community 
cages  outside.  After  three  years'  experience  with  the 
new  building,  and  a  careful  tabulation  of  diseases  and  death 
rates  within  it,  we  are  able  to  state  that  this  installation 
is  a  complete  and  gratifying  success. 

The  Large  Bird-House  is  an  L-shaped  building,  with  an 
all-glass  house  in  its  angle.  The  main  hall  extends  east  and 
west,  and  it  is  60  feet  long  by  50  feet  wide.  This  great 
room  contains  the  foreign  song-birds,  many  tropical  doves 
and  pigeons,  and  such  tropical  varieties  and  oddities  as  the 


148 


POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


SECRETARY    BIRD. 


great  crowned  pigeons,  tinamous,  toucans,  giant  king-fishers 
and  hornbills.  In  the  great  central  flying  cage  there  is  per- 
haps the  most  remarkable  omnium- gatherum  of  small  tropical 
birds — swimmers,  waders,  upland  game  birds  and  perch- 
ers — ever  brought  together  in  one  cage.  The  bottom  of 
the  L  is  the  Parrots'  Hall,  65x30  feet.  It  contains  the  par- 
rots, macaws,  cockatoos,  and  a  few  other  species. 

In  the  angle  of  the  main  building  stands  a  structure  al- 
most wholly  composed  of  metal  and  glass,  which  is  known  as 
the  Glass  Court.  It  was  designed  especially  for  North  Amer- 
ican song-birds.  The  visitor  should  not  overlook  the  fact 
that  there  are  cages  filled  with  birds  all  along  both  the  east- 
ern and  western  sides  of  the  Large  Bird  House. 

Nearly  all  the  cages  of  both  the  exterior  and  interior  of 
the  Main  and  Parrots'  Halls,  are  accessible  from  the  back 
by  passage-ways;  a  convenience  that  greatly  facilitates  the 
work  of  the  keepers  in  caring  for  their  various  charges. 

The  capacity  of  this  installation  as  a  whole  may  be  judged 
from  the  following  memorandum  of  cages : 

APPROXIMATE    SIZES    OF    CAGES    OF    THE    LARGE    BIRD-HOUSE 

INDOORS. 
Main  Hall. .  .Central  Flying  Cage.  .15x36x20  feet  high. .     1 


Side  Cages 
End  Cages 


5x5x9 
5x12x9 


35 
2 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  149 

Parrot  Hall . .  Side    Cages  6x8x9  21 

Glass  Court.  .West  Cages  8x9x9  6 

East   &  North   Cages. 5x6x8  16 

OUTDOORS. 

Northeast  Cages  7x12x10  2 

East  Cages  6x8x10  10 

Southeast  Circular  Flight  Cage  20x20x20  1 

South  Cages  6x8x10  3 

Large  Western  Cages  15x15x15  3 

Smaller  Western  Cages  6x9x10  14 

Total  number  of  cages 114 

Regarding  the  state  of  health  and  spirits  of  the  birds  in 
this  building,  the  visitor  must  be  left  to  judge  for  himself. 
It  is  only  fair  to  state,  however,  that  the  death  rate  here 
and  indeed  amongst  the  birds  of  the  Park  generally,  is 
very  low. 

In  view  of  the  great  number  of  avian  species  inhabiting 
the  Large  Bird-House,  it  is  a  practical  impossibility  to  give 
more  than  a  general  outline  of  the  groups  and  leading  feat- 
ures of  the  collection. 

As  the  visitor  enters  at  the  south  door,  nearest  the  Lion 
House,  he  is  greeted  by  a  discordant  chorus  of  ear-piercing 
shrieks  and  squawks,  joyous  but  very  raucous,  and  at  times 
too  persistent.  Loudest  are  the  voices  of  the  gorgeously- 
plumaged  Blue-and-Yellow  Macaw,  (Ara  ararauna]  •  the  Red- 
and-Blue  Macaw,  (Ara  macao],  and  the  Great  Green  Macaw. 
Around  their  cages  there  is  no  such  thing  as  stagnation  or 
somnolence.  The  soft-hued  Rosella  Parakeets,  the  flock  of 
mostly-green  Cuban  Parrots,  the  Leadbeater  Cockatoos  and 
the  White  Cockatoos  all  join  in  their  voices,  to  the  limit  of 
their  respective  abilities,  but  against  macaws  which  can  be 
heard  a  mile,  their  best  efforts  seem  tame.  The  members  of 
the  Order  Psittaciformes  (as  above)  have  been  beautifully 
colored  by  Nature,  and  their  harsh  voices  seem  strangely 
out  of  harmony  with  their  plumage. 

The  indoor  cages  along  the  western  side  of  the  Large 
Bird-House  (both  halls  included),  contain  an  extensive 
series  of  tropical  Pigeons  and  Doves,  which  are  well  worth 
some  attention. 

The  most  startling  exhibit  in  this  group  is  the  Bleeding 
Heart  Pigeon  (Phlogoenas  lusonica),  from  the  Philip- 
pines, whose  creamy- white  breast  seems  to  have  been  recent- 
ly stabbed  with  a  stiletto.  It  is  no  wonder  that  now  and 
then  a  sympathetic  visitor  seeks  the  curator,  or  a  keeper, 


150 


POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


GREAT    CROWNED    PIGEON. 

and  reports  that  a  bird  has  been  injured,  and  is  bleeding 
from  a  wound  in  its  breast. 

The  Flying  Cage  in  the  center  of  the  Main  Hall  contains 
a  pool  of  running  water,  some  small  trees,  an  imitation  rock, 
and  the  floor  is  covered  with  a  comfortable  layer  of  sand. 
Hopping  or  flying  about,  and  perching  on  the  trees,  is  a 
really  remarkable  medley  of  birds.  There  are  the  Wood  Duck 
and  Mandarin  Duck,  Black  Skimmers,  Common  and  Sooty 
Terns,  several  species  of  Teal,  Curlews,  Gallinules,  Coots, 
Lapwings,  Snipe,  Ruffs,  Quail,  Francolins,  Senegal,  Turtle, 
Wonga-wonga  and  other  Pigeons  and  Doves,  Skylarks, 
Eobins,  Orioles,  Cardinals,  Woodpeckers,  Java,  Fox,  Tree, 
and  other  Sparrows  and  Weavers. 

The  south  side  of  the  Main  Hall  is  devoted  to  miscella- 
neous rare  birds  from  the  tropics,  regardless  of  the  Orders  to 
which  they  belong.  The  largest  are  the  Great  Crowned 
Pigeons, — Victoria  and  Common, — the  oddest  are  the  Con- 
cave-Casqued  Hornbills  and  the  Toucans  (eight  species). 
The  Rufous  Tinamou,  of  South  America,  is  a  species  which, 
through  lack  of  use  for  its  wings,  is  rapidly  losing  the 
power  of  flight.  The  Giant  Kingfisher  is  the  "Laughing 
Jackass"  of  Australia,  and  its  cry  is  strangely  like  the 
mirthless  horse-laugh  of  a  man  who  has  few  smiles  and 
seldom  uses  one.  The  Himalayan  Jay-Thrush  is  so  con- 
firmed a  murderer  of  birds  smaller  than  himself,  it  is  neces- 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 

r —         


151 


SULPHUR  CRESTED  COCKATOO. 


TOCO  TOUCAN. 


sary  to  quarter  that  species  with  other  birds  abundantly 
able  to  defend  themselves  against  its  attacks. 

On  the  northern  side  of  the  Main  Hall  there  will  be  found 
a  very  interesting  group  of  Cuban  birds,  another  of  birds  of 
the  Bahamas,  a  fair-sized  collection  of  Finches,  Weavers, 
Canaries,  Trogons,  and  other  small  species  of  foreign  lands. 
Here  also  is  the  rare  and  beautifully-plumed  Greater  Bird 
of  Paradise,  (Paradisea  apoda}. 

The  visitor  is  reminded  that  for  all  cages  that  contain 
more  than  one  species,  the  picture  labels  quickly  furnish  a 
key  for  identification  of  each. 

In  the  Glass  Court  and  around  it,  the  Curator  of  Birds, 
Mr.  C.  "William  Beebe,  has  scored  a  gratifying  success  in 
the  installation  of  the  Order  Passeres.  The  birds  are  ar- 
ranged by  Families,  and  all  of  the  twenty-one  families  of 
eastern  North  American  perching  birds  are  represented. 
These  Families  are  as  follows :  Flycatchers,  Swallows,  Wrens, 
Mockingbirds  and  Catbirds,  Thrushes,  Kinglets,  Vireos, 
Waxwings,  Shrikes,  Chickadees,  Nuthatches,  Brown 
Creepers,  Warblers,  Pipits,  Horned  Larks,  Sparrows,  Honey 
Creepers,  Tanagers,  Blackbirds  and  Orioles,  English  Starling, 
Crows  and  Jays.  It  is  only  those  who  have  attempted  to 
form  and  install  such  a  collection  who  can  appreciate  the 
effort  which  that  collection  has  cost,  or  the  difficulties  in- 
volved in  the  maintenance  of  so  large  a  number  of  insect 


152  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

eating  birds.  The  birds  in  this  section  of  the  Bird-House 
are  especially  interesting  to  the  teachers  of  pupils  of  the 
public  schools  of  this  city. 

The  large  circular  flying  cage,  at  the  outer  corner  of  the 
Glass  Court,  is  filled  with  Robins,  Bluebirds,  Thrushes  and 
Woodpeckers  which  winter  there  very  comfortably,  be- 
cause they  are  fed  and  watered,  and  sheltered  from  the 
worst  storms. 

Along  the  western  wall  of  the  Large  Bird-House,  outside, 
fourteen  large  cages  are  filled  with  members  of  the  Crow 
and  Blackbird  Families  (Corvidae  and  Icteridae),  such  as 
the  Ravens,  Crows,  Jays,  Magpies,  Blackbirds,  Meadow- 
larks,  Cowbirds  and  Grackles,  beside  which  appear  our  old 
friends  the  Yellow-Shafted  Flicker  and  Red-Headed  Wood- 
pecker. 

The  following  is  a  systematic  enumeration  of  the  Orders 
of  birds  represented  in  the  Zoological  Park  on  April  1,  1913 : 

LIST   OF   BIRDS,   APRIL    1,    1913. 
ORDERS.  Species.     Specimens. 

Rheiformes Rheas    2  2 

Struthioniformes    .  .  .  .Ostriches 2  2 

Casuariiformes Emeus  and  Cassowaries  2  3 

Tinamiformes Tinamou    5  5 

Galliformes Quail   and   Pheasants.  .  88  204 

Purniciformes    Hemipodes    1  2 

Ptericlidiformes Sand   Grouse    1  1 

Columhiformes Pigeons  and  Doves   ...  57  183 

Ralliformes Coots   and   Gallinules.  .15  35 

Lariformes    Gulls  and   Terns    17  54 

Charadriiformes Plovers  and  Sandpipers  18  48 

Gruiformes Cranes,    Seriema    13  30 

Ardeiformes    Ibises,  Storks  and  Her- 
ons      35  85 

Palamedeif  ormes    ....  Screamers 3  4 

Phoenicopteriformes  ..Flamingoes 2  5 

Anseriformes    Swans,  Geese  and 

Ducks    72  712 

Pelecaniformes    New   World   Vultures..  9  30 

Cathartidiformes    ....Cormorants  and 

Pelicans    8  27 

Serpentariiformes   .  .  .  .Secretary  Birds 1  2 

Accipitrif ormes    Hawks  and  Eagles;  Old 

World  Vultures   ....  28  48 

Strigiformes Owls    20  47 

Psittaciformes   Parrots,   Macaws   and 

Cockatoos 86  194 

Coraciiformes Kingfishers  and  Horn- 
bills  12  15 

Trogoniformes    Trogons 1  1 

Cuculiformes Touracos  and  Cuckoos.  10  18 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  153 

ORDERS.                                           Species.  Specimens. 

Scansoriformes Toucans  and  Barbets.  .        8  13 

Piciformes Woodpecker 9  26 

Passeriformes Thrushes,  Sparrows  and 

all  perching  birds...    378  1242 


Totals 903  3038 

WILD-FOWL  POND, 

Heretofore  Called  the  Aquatic  Mammals'  Pond. 

As  the  birds  on  this  pond  have  been  transferred  from  the 
Duck  Aviary,  the  interest  of  this  exhibit  is  of  special  char- 
acter, and  greatly  enjoyed  by  hosts  of  visitors.  This  is 
the  nursery  of  the  ducks  and  geese,  where,  in  the  tangle  of 
long  grass,  briars  and  underbrush  along  the  east  side  of  the 
pond,  the  nests  are  built  in  early  spring,  the  eggs  are  laid 
and  patiently  incubated.  Finally  the  broods  of  ducklings 
are  led  to  the  water,  to  feed  to  repletion,  throughout  the 
summer,  on  the  worms,  bugs  and  insects  so  dear  to  the  ap- 
petite of  these  amusing  little  fellows. 

Cope  Lake  is  the  especial  province  of  the  nesting  pairs  of 
Canada  geese,  and  sometimes  as  many  as  eight  golden-col- 
ored goslings  are  hatched  in  one  nest  on  the  small  island. 

The  Mallard  Duck,  (Anas  boschas),  is  one  of  our  finest 
swimming  birds,  the  joy  of  the  sportsman  who  finds  it  in 
its  haunts,  the  delight  of  the  epicure  who  finds  it  on  the  bill 
of  fare.  Sluggish  indeed  must  be  the  blood  which  does  not 
beat  faster  at  the  sight  of  a  flock  of  wild  Mallards,  free  in 
Nature,  and  ready  to  leap  into  the  air  and  away  at  the 
slightest  alarm.  After  the  pintail  and  the  wood  duck,  this 
is  one  of  the  handsomest  ducks  of  North  America,  and  also 
one  of  the  finest  for  the  table.  Its  range  covers  practically 
the  whole  of  the  western  continent  down  to  Panama,  and 
even  extends  to  the  Azores,  north  Africa,  and  northern  India. 
The  drakes  are  readily  recognized  by  the  splendid  irrides- 
cent  green  of  the  head. 

The  Green- Winged  Teal,  (Nettion  c-arolinensis) ,  and  Blue- 
Winged  Teal,  (Querqucdula  discors),  are  very  delicate  birds, 
and  therefore  rather  difficult  to  maintain  in  captivity.  A 
flock  of  each  will  be  found  in  the  Flying  Cage. 

The  Pintail  Duck,  (Dafila  acuta),  is  specially  commended 
to  the  notice  of  visitors  because  of  its  great  beauty,  both 
in  color  and  form.  Its  colors  form  an  exquisite  harmony  of 


154 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


DUCKS  FEEDING:    WILD   FOWL   POND. 

soft  brown  and  gray  tones  which  fairly  rival  the  more 
gaudy  color-pattern  of  the  wood  duck.  The  species  is  yet 
found  occasionally  along  the  Atlantic  Coast,  but  like  all 
other  edible  birds,  its  numbers  are  rapidly  diminishing. 
A  large  flock  of  these  birds  will  be  found  on  the  Wild-Fowl 
Pond. 

The  Gadwall,  (Chaulelasmas  strep  era},  is  a  handsome  gray 
bird,  well  known  to  gunners  along  the  Mississippi  Valley, 
but  rarely  seen  along  the  Atlantic  coast.  Its  chief  breeding 
grounds  are  in  the  great  marshes  of  central  Canada. 

The  Baldpate,  (Mareca  americaua),  on  of  the  finest  of 
water-fowl,  is  now  so  scarce  that  it  is  difficult  to  obtain  speci- 
mens for  exhibition.  These  birds  are  poor  divers,  but  gain  a 
good  livelihood  by  feeding  on  floating  sea  lettuce,  disturbed 
from  the  bottom  by  the  better  equipped  canvas-backs  and 
redheads. 

The  bill  of  the  Shoveller,  (Spatula  clypeata),  has  become  so 
specialized  for  mud-sifting  that  it  has  actually  assumed  the 
shape  of  a  shovel,  and  is  out  of  all  proportion  to  the  size  of 
the  bird's  body.  The  sides  of  the  bill  are  equipped  with 
bony  plates,  through  which  the  mud  is  strained,  the  particles 
of  food  being  caught  and  swallowed. 

The  Canvas-Back  (Aythya  rallisneria) ,  and  the  Red-Head, 
(A.  americana],  two  prime  favorites  with  the  sportsman  and 
epicure,  are  exhibited  on  the  Wild  Fowl  Pond.  Of  the  latter, 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  155 

a  good-sized  flock  is  shown.  Canvas-Backs,  however,  are 
difficult  to  capture  unhurt,  and  still  more  difficult  to  'keep 
alive  in  captivity,  and  for  these  reasons  the  number  exhibited 
always  is  very  small. 

The  Lesser  Scaup,  (Mania  affinis),  is  one  of  the  sea  ducks, 
and,  like  its  congeners,  a  very  expert  diver.  It  feeds  chiefly 
on  mollusks,  which  it  finds  in  the  mud,  often  at  considerable 
depths  under  water 

The  Paradise  Sheldrake,  (Casarca  variegata),  of  Australia, 
is  a  striking  bird,  occupying  a  position  mid-way  between 
the  ducks  and  geese.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  fe- 
male is  much  more  attractive  than  the  male,  the  head  and 
neck  being  pure  white,  in  contrast  with  the  more  sombre 
body.  This  species  is  very  quarrelsome  in  captivity. 

The  Ruddy  Sheldrake,  (Casarca  casarca),  is  a  bird  of  wide 
distribution,  being  found  from  the  Mediterranean  countries 
to  Japan,  and  also  in  northeast  Africa.  Both  sexes  are  of 
a  uniform  light  chestnut,  the  male  being  distinguished  by 
a  black  ring  around  the  neck.  The  nest  is  always  well 
sheltered,  often  being  placed  in  a  hollow  log. 

The  Common  or  Tadorna  Sheldrake,  (Tadorna  tadorna),  is 
a  remarkably  colored  bird,  but  unfortunately  difficult  to 
keep  alive  in  this  climate.  It  nests  in  holes  in  the  ground, 
preferably  in  disused  rabbit  burrows. 

The  Mandarin  Duck,  (Aix  galericulata),  is  the  Chinese 
counterpart  of  our  beautiful  Wood  or  Summer  Duck,  (Aix 
sponsa].  Of  all  living  ducks,  the  males  of  these  two  species 
are  the  most  gorgeously  colored  and  plumed,  and  they  are 
also  of  elegant  form.  Although  both  species  are  much 
sought  after,  the  number  of  available  specimens  continues 
to  be  limited  to  a  comparatively  small  number. 

THE  PHEASANT  AND  PIGEON  AVIARY,  No.  40. 

Entire  Collection  is  the  Gift  of  Mr.  Jacob  H.  Schiff. 

The  Pheasant  Aviary  is  a  building  like  a  corridor  240  feet 
long  with  a  cross  pavilion  at  each  end.  The  main  structure 
is  divided  into  22  shelters  connecting  with  a  like  number  of 
wire  enclosed  outside  runways,  each  of  which  is  8  feet  wide, 
24  feet  long  and  8  feet  high.  The  two  end  pavilions  furnish 
32  smaller  shelters  and  runways,  making  a  total  of  48  com- 
partments. The  shelters  are  divided  into  two  stories,  the 
upper  series  being  designed  for  pigeons,  doves  and  perch- 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  157 

ing  birds  of  various  kinds.  Each  bird  in  this  aviary  can  at 
every  moment  of  his  life  choose  according  to  his  needs  from 
the  following  series  of  accommodations  that  are  available 
to  him :  An  open,  sunlit  yard,  a  storm  shelter  with  an  open 
front,  or  a  closed  room  with  one  small  door  and  a  large 
window. 

This  beautiful  and  generous  installation,  240  feet  long, 
with  48  runways,  accommodates  the  true  Pheasants  of  the 
world,  the  largest  group  of  birds  of  the  Pheasant  Family 
(Phasianidae),  which  in  turn  is  one  of  the  grand  divisions 
of  the  sportsman's  own  Order  Gallinae,  or  upland  game- 
birds.  Of  the  whole  Order  Gallinae, — which  includes  the 
Grouse,  Ptarmigan,  Partridges,  Pheasants,  Turkeys,  Guinea- 
Fowls,  Jungle  Fowl,  Quails,  Brush-Turkeys,  Curassows  and 
Guans — the  group  of  the  Pheasants  can  justly  claim  the  dis- 
tinction of  possessing  the  most  beautiful  birds.  Indeed,  I 
think  there  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  whole  avian  world  a 
group  of  game  birds  all  the  members  of  which,  taken  species 
by  species,  are  so  gorgeously  apparelled  as  these. 

In  this  brief  notice  of  what  is  really  one  of  the  finest 
pheasant  collections  in  the  world,  it  is  not  possible  to  do 
more  than  direct  the  visitors'  attention  to  its  chief  items  of 
interest.  It  must  be  stated  well  in  advance,  however,  that 
these  are  birds  of  very  shy  and  retiring  habit,  which  owe 
their  existence  as  species  to  the  success  with  which  they 
retreat  from  danger,  and  conceal  themselves  from  man  and 
beast.  These  birds  must  not  be  forced  to  spend  all  the  day- 
light hours  in  their  runways;  for  some  of  them  could  not 
long  survive  such  exposure  and  excitement.  To  preserve 
their  lives,  and  keep  them  in  health,  they  must  have  the 
privilege  of  retiring  into  their  shelters  whenever  they  de- 
sire. But  they  roam  in  and  out,  and  by  the  exercise  of  a 
little  effort  in  returning  to  them,  the  interested  visitor  will 
find  no  great  difficulty  in  seeing  all  the  species. 

There  are  few  species  of  pheasants  whose  members  are 
sufficiently  peace-loving  that  many  individuals  can  be  kept 
together  without  deadly  combats.  Of  most  species  save  the 
golden,  silver  and  ring-neck,  the  cocks  are  so  quarrelsome 
that  even  two  can  not  be  kept  together ;  and  this  fact  con- 
stitutes a  handicap  upon  those  whose  duty  it  is  to  maintain 
the  full  strength  of  the  exhibition.  If  a  rare  and  quarrel- 
some male  pheasant  dies  unexpectedly,  it  is  not  always  pos- 
sible to  fill  the  vacancy  on  short  notice. 

Out  of  the  half-dozen  species  which  claim  first  place  in 
an  enumeration  based  on  beauty  and  luxuriance  of  plum- 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


MANCHURIAN   EARED    PHEASANT. 

age — the  Amherst,  Reeve,  golden,  silver,  impeyan,  Argus 
or  Soemmerring — it  is  difficult  to  choose.  Each  has  its  share 
of  strong  points,  and  it  seems  as  if  there  is  no  "finest  of 
all."  Let  us  take  them  as  they  come  to  mind,  for  by  reason 
of  the  changes  so  often  necessary  in  the  runways,  it  is  in- 
expedient to  attempt  an  end-to-end  enumeration. 

The  Golden  Pheasant,  (Chrysolophns  pictus),  is  a  uni- 
versal favorite;  and  it  well  deserves  its  wide  popularity. 
Although  small,  it  is  as  beautiful  as  the  most  entrancing 
sunset  ever  seen.  It  is  very  alert  and  chic,  it  is  so  good 
tempered  that  we  can  have  the  rare  pleasure  of  seeing  a 
whole  flock  in  one  runway,  and  it  is  a  good  breeder.  To 
crown  all  these  fine  qualities,  it  is  so  hardy,  and  so  com- 
petent a  "rustler"  in  seeking  food  that  under  fair  con- 
ditions it  is  easily  transplanted  from  its  native  home  in 
western  and  southern  China.  It  has  been  introduced  and 
acclimatized  with  gratifying  success  in  Oregon,  Washington, 
southern  British  Columbia  near  the  Pacific  coast,  and  else- 
where. In  the  shooting  season,  the  shops  of  the  taxider- 
mists of  Vancouver  and  Portland  are  filled  with  these  gor- 
geous creatures,  which  appreciative  sportsmen  have  found 
"too  beautiful  to  eat."  One  might  as  well  try  to  describe 
a  sunset  as  to  pen  a  mental  picture  of  the  wonderful  com- 
bination of  golden  yellow,  orange,  lapis-lazuli  blue  and  deep 
crimson  that  appear  in  the  plumage  of  this  gorgeous  bird. 

The  Amherst  Pheasant,  (Chrysoloflhus  amherstiae),  is  the 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


159 


INDIAN    PEACOCK. 


nearest  relative  to  the  golden  species,  and  also  a  strong  can- 
didate for  first  honors  on  the  score  of  beauty.  As  far  as 
you  can  see  the  cock  bird,  you  can  recognize  it  by  its  mar- 
vellous cape  of  pure  white  feathers  marked  with  semicircles 
of  black  and  steel-blue,  which  reaches  from  its  eyes  far  back 
upon  the  shoulders.  It  is  also  easily  recognized  by  its  enor- 
mously long  tail,  the  middle  feathers  of  which  are  conspicu- 
ously marked  by  a  regular  series  of  diagonal  bars  of  black 
laid  on  a  light  ground  color.  This  bird  is  of  small  size,  and 
fortunately  for  the  public,  it  breeds  in  confinement  with  suffi- 
cient readiness  that  a  good  supply  for  exhibition  purposes  is 
thereby  maintained. 

The  Silver  Pheasant,  (Gennacas  nycthemerus),  of  China, 
is  Nature's  "running  mate"  for  the  golden  pheasant,  not 
only  in  the  rocky  hill  forests  of  southern  China,  but  in 
acclimatization,  in  captivity,  and  everywhere  else.  Wher- 
ever you  see  a  golden  pheasant,  look  for  the  Silver  also,  with 
its  showy,  snow-white  tail,  and  white  mantle  of  feathers 
which  covers  the  whole  upper  two-thirds  of  the  bird  from 
its  ears  to  its  tail.  Its  dark-colored  under  surface  serves  well 
to  accentuate  the  whiteness  of  its  other  parts.  It  is  a  larger 
bird  than  the  golden  and  Amherst  pheasants,  but  it  is  so 
good  tempered  that  every  summer  two  or  three  cock  birds 
are  kept  in  the  great  Flying  Cage  along  with  many  small 
and  defenseless  birds  which  might  easily  be  molested.  In 
parks  which  are  not  visited  by  great  numbers  of  people, 


160  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 

both  this  species  and  the  golden  are  easily  domesticated,  and 
permitted  to  roam  at  will. 

The  Reeves  Pheasant,  (Syrmaticus  reevesi),  of  northern 
China,  is  a  most  beautiful  species,  closely  related  to  the 
Japanese,  Elliott,  Hume  and  Soemmerring  pheasants, — all  of 
them  fine,  showy  birds.  Like  the  Amherst,  the  Reeves 
Pheasant  has  a  very  long  tail,  which  in  fully  adult  or  old 
male  birds  often  attains  a  length  of  five  feet.  When  you 
see  in  captivity  a  pheasant  with  an  enormously  long  tail, 
it  is  safe  to  assume  that  it  is  either  an  Amherst  or  a  Reeves. 

The  Soemmerring  Pheasant,  (Phasianus  soemmerringii), 
sometimes  very  aptly  called  the  Copper  Pheasant,  is  a  native 
of  Japan,  and  a  bird  of  which  any  country  might  well  bo 
proud.  In  size,  form  and  length  of  tail  it  matches  the  com- 
mon ring-necked  pheasant.  Its  head  and  neck  plumage  is 
of  a  warm  copper-bronze  tint,  but  its  most  beautiful  colors 
are  found  in  the  elaborate  cross-bar  markings  of  its  tail. 
The  pattern  of  the  latter  reveals  first  a  strong  cross-bar  of 
chocolate  brown,  above  that  a  broad  band  of  fawn-color, 
and  this  blends  into  a  mottling  of  black  on  cream-color, 
edged  across  with  black. 

The  True  Ring-Necked  Pheasant,  (P.  torquatus),  of  China, 
brings  to  view  a  question  that  frequently  is  asked  regarding 
the  English  Pheasant,  (P.  colchicus),  which  is  the  common 
species  of  southeastern  Europe  and  Asia  Minor,  and  of 
Great  Britain  and  other  continental  areas  by  introduction. 
We  are  asked,  "Has  the  English  Pheasant  a  white  ring 
around  its  neck,  or  not?" 

The  answer  is,  the  true,  pure-blooded  English,  or  Common 
Pheasant,  (P.  colchicus},  has  no  ring  around  its  neck;  but  so 
many  persons  have  crossed  the  true  Ring-Necked  Pheasant, 
of  China,  with  that  species  that  in  many  flocks  of  the  former 
species  the  majority  of  the  individuals  are  of  mixed  breed, 
with  necks  perceptibly  ringed,  yet  passing  as  English  Pheas- 
ants. As  a  matter  of  fact,  in  the  world  to-day,  pure-blooded 
English  Pheasants  are  rare.  Both  the  English  and  Ring- 
Necked  species  have  been  successfully  introduced  into  sev- 
eral portions  of  the  United  States. 

While  on  this  subject,  we  will  here  record  the  fact  that 
the  name  Mongolian  Pheasant,  as  often  applied  to  the  Ring- 
Neck,  is  a  misleading  error.  The  real  Mongolian  Pheasant, 

f  Turkestan,  (P.  mongolicus),  is  a  species  of  such  extreme 
rarity  that  it  is  almost  unknown,  alive,  in  the  United  States. 
A  nne  pair  of  these  birds  is  now  on  exhibition  at  the  Pheas- 
ant Aviary. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  161 

The  Argus  Pheasant,  (Argusianus  argus),  is  a  bird  with  a 
great  reputation  for  beauty,  but  as  seen  alive  in  zoological 
collections  it  does  not  always  come  up  to  expectations.  Both 
its  secondary  feathers — which  when  fully  developed  are  of 
enormous  length — and  its  primaries,  are  extremely  beauti- 
ful; but  unfortunately  those  beauties  are  not  visible  until 
the  bird  is  dead,  and  its  plumage  displayed  in  a  manner 
very  rarely  adopted  by  the  living,  captive  bird.  But  the 
eyes  on  the  huge  secondary  feathers  are  wonderful,  and  each 
primary  is  a  dream  in  ecru  and  brown  tints,  laid  on  in  a 
most  elaborate  pattern.  The  Argus  Pheasants  are  most  shy 
and  wide-awake  birds,  inhabiting  the  dense,  hot  and  moist 
jungles  of  Borneo,  Sumatra  and  the  Malay  Peninsula,  and 
are  almost  impossible  to  shoot.  They  are  snared  by  the 
Dyaks  and  Malays,  and  after  the  skin  has  been  removed  and 
carefully  preserved  for  museum  purposes,  the  flesh  is  as  fine 
eating  as  the  breast  of  a  quail  and  quite  as  palatable.  A 
few  successful  attempts  have  been  made  to  breed  this 
species  in  captivity. 

The  Impeyan  Pheasant,  (Lophophorus  impeyanus),  is  the 
neighbor  of  the  Himalayan  tahr,  the  burrhel,  the  ibex  and 
the  markhor,  and  the  delight  of  every  sportsman  who  dares 
the  rocks  of  "the  Roof  of  the  World"  in  quest  of  Himalayan 
big  game.  Its  beauty  is  due  chiefly  to  its  metallic  colors, 
and  the  splendid  iridescence  of  its  plumage.  Its  home  is 
in  the  world's  most  gigantic  mountains,  and  it  is  not  un- 
common for  a  bird  that  has  flown  out  from  a  mountain-side 
and  been  shot  on  the  wing  to  fall  2,000  feet,  and  beyond 
human  reach.  No  wonder  this  bird  is  popular  with  Anglo- 
Indian  sportsmen. 

The  Pheasant  Aviary  is  a  double  installation,  and  as  an 
aviary  for  Pigeons  and  Doves  it  is  quite  as  perfect  as  it  is 
for  Pheasants. 

During  the  year  1910  and  part  of  1911,  the  pheasants 
of  the  Old  "World  were  studied  in  their  haunts  by  Mr.  C. 
William  Beebe,  Curator  of  Birds.  By  reason  of  a  cash  gift 
to  the  Zoological  Society  made  by  Col.  Anthony  R.  Kuser, 
he  was  enabled  to  make  the  expedition.  The  results  will  be 
embodied  in  an  elaborate  monograph,  which  probably  will 
be  published  in  the  near  future. 


162  POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 

THE  OSTRICH  HOUSE,  No.  43. 

This  entire  collection  presented  by  the  late  Charles  T.  Barney. 

Originally  it  was  our  intention  to  devote  this  fine  build- 
ing solely  to  the  great  ''running  birds," — Ostriches,  Rheas, 
Emeus  and  Cassowaries ;  but  the  pressure  for  space  has  been 
so  great  that  this  intention  never  has  been  carried  into 
effect,  and  we  fear  it  never  will  be.  There  are  so  many 
cranes,  seriemas,  tropical  vultures  and  other  large  birds 
which  appeal  for  space  in  these  very  pleasant  and  health- 
ful quarters,  we  have  felt  compelled  to  set  our  original  plan 
half  at  naught.  It  seems  probable  that  some  of  the  feath- 
ered interlopers  now  in  the  Ostrich  House  will  remain  there, 
indefinitely — or  at  least  until  we  erect  a  Crane  Aviary. 

Architecturally,  the  Ostrich  House  is  the  counterpart  of 
the  Small-Mammal  House,  the  two  being  identical  in  size 
and  form,  and  connected  by  a  handsome  pavilion.  Each 
building  is  170  feet  long,  and  54  feet  wide.  The  Ostrich 
House  contains  13  cages,  each  10x12  feet,  by  8  feet  in  height. 
A  flood  of  warm  light  pours  through  a  glass  roof  into  these 
cages,  and  makes  them  as  light  as  the  yards  without.  It  is 
no  wonder  that  birds  thrive  in  this  building.  Movable  par- 
titions were  provided,  so  that  a  few  of  the  cages  might  be 
subdivided  whenever  necessary.  This  provision  has  proven 
of  much  practical  value. 

Each  interior  cage  connects  with  a  spacious  outside  yard, 
in  which  the  big  birds  spend  the  warm  months.  The  yards 
are  enclosed  by  wire  fences,  and  to  the  eye  of  the  visitor 
they  are  open  from  three  directions. 

The  members  of  the  Subclass  Ratitae, — once  called  the 
Cursores,  or  the  "running  birds," — are  the  present-day 
giants  of  the  avian  world.  We  have  reason  to  be  glad  that 
all  these  splendid  birds  did  not  disappear  from  the  earth 
before  ornithology  took  form  as  a  science.  Undoubtedly, 
they  mark  the  end  of  the  line  of  birds  of  their  kind,  for  the 
far-reaching  destructiveness  of  civilized  man  has  already 
put  a  period  to  the  natural  evolution  of  animal  life.  To-day, 
the  preservers  of  wild  life  are  engaged  in  a  hand-to-hand 
struggle  with  the  annihilators,  over  the  preservation  of  n 
remnant  for  those  who  come  after  us. 

The  African  Ostriches  are  now  very  prominently  in  the 
public  eye,  not  because  of  their  relationship  to  the  Dinornis 
and  Aepyornis  of  the  past,  but  by  reason  of  the  value  of 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


163 


L. 


their  plumes  in  enhancing  the  attractiveness  of  woman. 
And  surely,  no  plume-bearing  bird  ever  enlisted  in  a  better 
cause,  or  on  a  more  satisfactory  basis ;  for  to-day  the  plume 
crop  is  being  grown  and  plucked  and  marketed  with  almost 
as  much  certainty  as  the  annual  crop  of  wool.  In  the 
United  States,  the  most  important  plume-producing  ostrich 
farms  are  situated  in  southern  California  and  Arizona, 
where  the  industry  is  quite  successful.  So  valuable  are  the 
adult  birds  that  it  is  possible  to  purchase  specimens  im- 
ported from  Africa  for  less  money  than  would  be  necessary 
to  procure  them  in  the  United  States. 

A  full-grown  male  African  Ostrich  stands  8  feet  in  height, 
and  weighs  about  300  pounds.  Its  value  on  arrival  in  New 
York,  before  acclimatization  and  moulting  into  perfect  plu- 
mage, is  from  $200  to  $250.  The  female  lays  about  90  eggs 
in  a  year,  each  of  which  is  equal  to  about  20  hen's  eggs. 
The  time  of  incubation  is  about  40  days.  In  captivity  only 
about  60  per  cent  of  the  eggs  hatch,  and  of  those  not  more 
than  one-half  live  to  attain  full  maturity.  The  plumage  of 
immature  birds  and  adult  females  is  gray,  but  that  of  the 
adult  male  is  black  on  the  body,  and  white  on  the  wings  and 
tail. 

The  South  African  Ostrich,  (Struthio  anstralis),  differs 
from  the  species  found  in  the  north.  The  color  of  the 
naked  skin  of  its  neck  and  thighs,  and  the  front  scales  OD 


164 


POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


RHEA. 


CASSOWARY. 


its  metatarsus,  is  distinctly  bluish,  and  dark.  This  is  the 
species  of  the  southern  half  of  Africa,  now  so  successfully 
farmed  in  Cape  Colony  for  its  feathers  that  the  annual 
crop  is  said  to  yield  about  $5,000,000.  And  it  is  this  species 
which  is  kept  on  the  ostrich  farms  of  California  and 
Arizona. 

The  North  African,  or  Sudan  Ostrich,  (S.  camelus),  is  the 
species  first  and  longest  known.  Its  neck,  thighs  and  front 
metatarsal  scales  are  of  a  decided  pink  color.  Originally 
the  range  of  this  species  extended  from  north  Africa  well 
into  southwestern  Asia,  embracing  Arabia,  Syria  and  Meso- 
potamia. 

Generally  speaking,  the  African  Ostriches  originally  cov- 
ered all  the  open,  sandy  plains  of  Africa;  but  they  never 
inhabited  the  regions  of  dense  forests.  To-day  their  total 
inhabited  range  is  small,  and  rapidly  becoming  more  so.  It 
is  highly  probable  that  within  the  life  period  of  many  per- 
sons now  living,  wild  Ostriches  will  totally  disappear  from 
the  earth. 

The  Common  Rhea,  or  South  American  Ostrich,  (Rhea 
americona),  represents  a  group  of  ostriches  much  smaller 
than  those  of  Africa,  and  found  only  on  the  open  plans  of 
Argentina  and  Patagonia,  below  the  great  equatorial  forest 
belt.  There  are  three  species  in  the  group.  In  general 
terms  it  may  be  stated  that  an  adult  Rhea  is  about  two- 
thirds  the  size  of  an  adult  African  ostrich.  It  is  with  great 
difficulty  that  these  birds  are  reared  to  maturity  in  the 
United  States. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


165 


EMEUS. 

The  Common  Emeu,  (Dromacus  novae-hollandiae),  of  Aus- 
tralia, is  the  neighbor  of  the  kangaroo  and  wallaby,  and  in 
form  is  as  odd  as  are  the  majority  of  the  birds  and  mammals 
of  that  continent  of  strange  creatures.  Its  body  suggests  a 
pile  of  gray-brown  hay  elevated  on  stilts,  to  one  end  of 
which  a  hay-covered  neck  and  head  have  been  attached.  The 
bird-lover  should  make  much  of  this  creature,  for  in  its 
home  country  it  has  been  almost  exterminated.  Fortu- 
nately, in  climates  reasonably  well  suited  to  it — but  not  in 
or  near  New  York — it  is  possible  to  breed  this  bird  in  cap- 
tivity. In  size  the  Emeu  is  next  to  the  African  ostrich. 

The  Ceram  Cassowary,  (Casuarius  casnarius),  of  the 
Island  of  Ceram,  Malay  Archipelago,  represents  a  group 
which  contains  a  number  of  well-defined  species  which  are 
scattered  through  the  northern  cape  of  Australia,  New 
Guinea,  the  Aru  Islands,  Ceram,  and  other  islands  of  Malay- 
ana  east  of  Celebes.  They  are  all  distinguished  by  their 
glossy  purple  or  black  body  plumage — which  looks  far  more 
like  coarse  hair  than  like  feathers — their  huge  legs,  and 
their  helmeted  heads.  The  differences  between  species  are 
based  chiefly  upon  the  bright  orange  red  and  purple  colors 
of  their  upper  necks  and  wattles. 

In  size  the  Cassowaries  are  all  of  them  smaller  than  the 
emeus.  In  captivity  they  are  the  best  of  all  the  large  cursor- 


166  POPULAR   OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 

ial  birds,  and  live  longer  than  either  ostriches,  rheas  or 
emeus.  They  are  essentially  birds  of  the  thick  forests  rather 
than  open  plains,  and  can  not  bear  the  glaring  light  and  heat 
of  midsummer  that  is  the  delight  of  an  ostrich.  In  captivity 
they  are  very  apt  to  be  quarrelsome  toward  each  other. 

Miscellaneous  Birds  in  the  Ostrich  House. — At  present 
these  are  so  numerous  and  so  important  it  is  necessary  to 
mention  a  few  of  them,  even  though  the  labels  may  be  sup- 
posed to  speak  for  them.  They  fall  into  several  groups,— 
chiefly  birds  of  prey  and  cranes. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  creatures  in  the  entire  collec- 
tion is  the  Secretary  Bird,  (Serpentarius  serpentarius) .  It  is 
well  known  as  a  snake  killer,  its  attacks  being  made  with 
the  feet  alone,  and  never  with  the  beak.  Its  long  legs  are  re- 
markably powerful,  and  capable  of  dealing  a  crushing  blow, 
always  aimed  at  the  head  of  the  victim.  Although  it  does 
not  resemble  the  hawks  and  eagles  in  general  appearance, 
it  is  in  reality  one  of  this  group,  and  might  well  be  described 
as  a  "hawk  on  stilts."  The  snakes,  frogs,  small  animals 
and  birds  which  form  its  diet  are  generally  swallowed  en- 
tire. The  long  cockades  of  black  feathers  falling  back- 
wards at  each  side  of  the  head  are  said  to  have  suggested 
the  name  Secretary  Bird,  from  a  fancied  resemblance  to  a 
quill  stuck  behind  the  ear  of  a  clerk. 

The  Brush  Turkey,  or  Telegalla,  (Catheturus  latliami),  is  a 
bird  of  the  dark  tropical  forests  of  New  Guinea  and  Aus- 
tralia. For  many  years  it  has  been  regarded  as  a  zoological 
wonder,  because  of  the  remarkable  manner  in  which  it  nests 
and  produces  its  young.  Instead  of  building  a  small,  hol- 
low nest,  and  hatching  its  eggs  by  the  heat  of  its  own  body, 
it  pursues  the  plan  of  the  crocodile !  Choosing  an  open  spot 
in  the  forest  it  builds  a  huge  mound,  and  as  the  structure 
rises,  it  lays  its  eggs  in  the  heart  of  it.  Turning  its  tail  to 
the  mound-site,  this  absurd  little  bird — no  larger  than  a 
barnyard  hen — scratches  about  right  and  left,  gathers  a  big 
footful  of  small  dead  sticks,  grass  and  dirt,  and  fiercely 
flings  it  backward  upon  the  pile.  A  Brush  Turkey  in  good 
working  order  can  fling  a  bunch  of  jungle  debris  fully  ten 
feet.  Usually  the  finished  mound  is  about  three  feet  high 
by  ten  feet  in  diameter  on  the  ground,  and  contains  two  or 
three  cart-loads  of  sticks,  leaves  and  grass.  The  eggs  are 
deposited  in  a  circle,  well  separated  from  each  other,  and 
each  newly  hatched  bird  must  scratch  out  or  die.  Of  course, 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


167 


LITTLE   BROWN   CRANE. 


DEMOISELLE  CRANE. 


the  eggs  are  incubated  by  the  heat  of  the  sun  and  the  fer- 
mentation of  the  mass.  When  hatched,  the  young  chicks  are 
able  to  fly. 

THE  CRANES. 

At  present  the  Cranes  of  the  Zoological  Park  are  divided 
between  the  Ostrich  House  and  the  Aquatic  Bird  House,  and 
their  environs.  In  summer  there  are  exhibits  of  these  birds 
in  the  outdoor  yards  adjacent  to  each  of  those  buildings. 
Recently,  a  number  of  species  have  been  acclimatized  in  the 
Crane  Paddock,  and  are  to  be  seen  there  winter  and  sum- 
mer. 

The  Whooping  Crane,  (Grus  americana),  is  the  largest,  the 
handsomest  and  the  rarest  crane  species  in  America.  Its 
great  size  and  its  pure-white  plumage — except  its  primar- 
ies— render  it  conspicuous  from  afar,  and  its  voice  will  carry 
half  a  mile.  The  arched  secondary  wing  feathers  of  the 
adult  give  the  bird  a  very  jaunty  appearance.  This  species 
is  so  rare  that  thus  far  we  have  been  able  in  eight  years 
to  secure  only  three  specimens.  The  Whooping  Crane  nests 
in  summer  in  the  Arctic  regions,  but  in  winter  it  ranges 
as  far  south  as  Mexico.  Our  specimens  of  this  bird  will  in 
summer  be  found  in  the  large  paddock  immediately  north 
of  the  Aquatic  Bird  House,  with  the  next  species. 

The  Sandhill  Crane,  (Grus  mexicana),  is  smaller  than  the 
preceding  species,  more  common,  and  is  frequently  seen  in 


168 


POPULAR    OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


ASIATIC    WH 


PARADISE    CRANE. 


captivity.  Its  color  is  slaty-blue.  It  is  found  in  the  south- 
eastern United  States,  but  once  was  fairly  common  through- 
out the  Mississippi  valley.  In  captivity  this  bird  often  in- 
dulges in  some  very  droll  antics — at  times  actually  dancing. 
The  adult  males  are  often  quite  pugnacious,  and  inclined  to 
attack  those  who  go  near  them,  and  all  visitors  are  warned 
not  to  go  within  striking  distance  of  them.  Children  espe- 
cially should  not  be  permitted  to  climb  over  the  guard  wires, 
and  approach  close  up  to  the  cranes'  fences. 

The  Sams  Crane,  of  the  plains  and  sand-bars  of  northern 
India,  (Antigone  antigone},  greatly  resembles  our  sandhill 
crane,  but  is  a  much  larger  bird.  This  also  is  a  quarrelsome 
species,  and  in  captivity  individuals  are  inclined  to  be  cruel 
toward  each  other. 

The  Asiatic  White  Crane,  (Sarcogcranus  leucogeranus) ,  is 
like  a  modest  understudy  to  our  whooping  crane,  in  all 
respects  save  the  elevated  tail-crest.  It  is  a  bird  of  wide 
distribution. 

The  Paradise  Crane,  (Tetrapteryx  paradisea),  of  the  open 
plains  of  Africa  outside  the  deserts,  is  a  slaty-blue  bird  with 
a  head  so  puffed  out  with  side  feathers  that  it  looks  almost 
reptilian.  Its  tail-feathers  taper  out  to  infinity,  and  grace- 
fully droop  quite  to  the  ground.  The  little  African  De- 
moiselle Crane,  (Anthropoides  rirgo],  is  so  diminutive,  so 
dainty  in  appearance  and  so  gentle-spirited  that  its  young- 
ladylikeness  has  been  proclaimed  in  its  name.  Of  all 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK 


169 


WHOOPING    CRANE. 


CROWNED  CRANE. 


foreign  species  of  cranes,  it  is  the  one  easiest  to  procure, 
and  the  most  satisfactory  to  keep  in  collections.  It  never 
quarrels,  it  is  very  sociable  in  its  habits,  and  thrives  in 
captivity. 

The  Crowned  Crane,  (Balearica  pavonina],  also  of  Africa, 
is,  perhaps,  the  most  beautiful  of  all  living  cranes.  It  is  of 
medium  size,  royally  colored,  and  strikingly  set  off  with  a 
conspicuous  crown  of  stiff,  quill-like  feathers  that  stand  as 
erect  and  regular  as  the  aigret  of  an  Indian  prince. 


ADJUTANT. 


JABIRU. 


HORNED    RATTLESNAKE. 


HOG-NOSED   SNAKE. 


GECKO. 


TREE  FROG. 


SECTION  III.— THE  REPTILES  AND  AMPHIBIANS. 
THE  REPTILE  HOUSE,  No.  34. 

The  Reptile  House  was  the  first  large  building  erected  m 
the  Zoological  Park.  It  represents  an  earnest  effort  to  pre- 
sent carefully  selected  examples  of  the  reptilian  Orders,  in  a 
manner  which  may  afford  the  visitor  and  the  student  a  gen- 
eral view  of  the  important  groups  of  living  reptiles. 

The  length  of  the  Reptile  House,  over  all,  is  146  feet,  and 
its  greatest  width  is  100  feet.  It  is  constructed  of  buff  mot- 
tled brick,  combined  with  granite  and  Indiana  limestone. 
In  the  ornamental  cornice  of  terra  cotta,  reptilian  forms 
modelled  by  Mr.  A.  Phimister  Proctor,  the  well-known  ani- 
mal sculptor,  constitute  an  important  feature.  The  build- 
ing is  roofed  with  slate,  heated  by  hot  water,  and  cost,  with 
its  cages,  about  $50,000.  It  is  beautifully  situated  on  the 
edge  of  a  forest  of  primeval  oaks,  very  near  the  geograph- 
ical center  of  the  Park. 

The  great  center  hall  is  unbroken  by  a  single  column,  and 
at  one  end  it  opens  across  the  Crocodile  Pool  and  its  sand- 
banks, through  three  huge  arches,  into  the  green,  jungly 
mass  of  the  conservatory.  Of  the  tropical  vegetation 
massed  behind  the  pool — palmettoes,  bayonet  cacti,  yuccas, 
and  the  like,  and  the  tillandsias,  Spanish  moss,  resurrection 
ferns,  and  butterfly  orchids, — nearly  the  whole  came  from 
Florida,  along  with  five  alligators  which  were  the  first 
occupants  of  the  pool. 

In  effect,  the  central  hall  appears  to  be  115  feet  in  length, 
by  40  feet  wide,  exclusive  of  the  cages.  But,  large  as  this 
building  is,  it  would  be  an  easy  matter  to  fill  all  its  avail- 
able space  with  the  reptiles  of  North  America  alone,  choos- 
ing only  the  handsome  and  showy  forms.  As  we  contem- 
plate the  great  number  of  species  in  our  own  reptilian 
fauna,  the  thought  occurs,  what  can  we  do  with  the  rep- 
tiles of  the  Old  World?  Manifestly,  the  only  proper  course 
is  to  choose  from  the  reptiles  of  the  world  the  forms  which 
will  make  for  our  visitors  and  students  the  most  instructive 
and  attractive  series  of  important  types. 

171 


172 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


SYNOPSIS    OF    THE    CLASS    REPTILIA. 

On  April  1,   1913,     all    these    examples    are    on    exhibition    in    the 
Reptile  House: 

ORDERS.  CONSPICUOUS     EXAMPLES.  LOCALITY. 

Alligator  Turtle Louisiana. 

Snapping  Turtle Zoological  Park. 

Box  Tortoise Zoological  Park. 

TURTLES,  or  Giant  Tortoise Galapagos  Island. 

Chelonia.  Gopher  Tortoise Florida. 

Painted  Turtle New  York. 

Green  Turtle  (marine) . . .  New  York. 
Soft-shelled  Turtle Indiana. 

(Alligator Florida. 
Florida  Crocodile Southern  Florida. 
Broad-nosed  Crocodile ...  Africa. 
.  Iguana  (/.  tuber- 

culata} West  Indies. 

Horned  "Toad" Arizona. 

LIZARDS,  or  Green  Lizard  (L. 

Pi       Lacertilia. 

Monitor Ceylon. 

"Glass  Snake" Florida. 

Gila  Monster Arizona. 

Chameleon Africa. 

Regal  Python Malay  Peninsula. 

Anaconda British  Guiana. 

Black  Snake  (B. 

constrictor) Zoological  Park. 

SERPENTS,  or  Garter  Snake Zoological  Park. 

Ophidia.  Hog-Nosed   Snake Zoological  Park. 

\  Coral  Snake Florida. 

Cobra  de  Capello India. 

Diamond  -  Backed  ^.  S 

Rattlesnake Florida. 

Water  Moccasin Florida.  J  ;> 


THE  TURTLES  AND  TORTOISES. 

The  Order  of  Turtles,  (Chelonia),  is  so  large  that  it  has 
been  found  necessary  to  devote  to  its  representatives  the 
whole  central  space  of  the  main  hall  of  the  Reptile  House, 
and  also  a  specially  designed  Tortoise  House  of  glass  in  the 
eastern  end  of  the  building.  In  the  main  hall  are  two  feat- 
ures— one,  a  large  square  tank  for  large  turtles;  the  other, 
a  pool  of  running  water  between  banks  of  earth,  sand,  and 
living  plants.  This  tank  is  35  feet  in  length,  and  by  means 
of  low,  plate-glass  partitions  it  is  divided  into  ten  cross  sec- 
tions, each  of  which  can  very  comfortably  provide  for  the 
wants  of  at  least  three  species  of  turtles  of  medium  si™0 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


173 


GIANT  TORTOISE. 

With  a  wonderfully  rich  Chelonian  fauna  on  the  western 
continent  to  provide  for,  there  is  little  room  to  spare  for 
Old  World  forms,  and  the  temptation  to  make  this  col- 
lection strictly  Occidental,  is  almost  too  great  to  be  resisted. 
For  the  sake  of  brevity  and  clearness,  only  six  types  have 
been  chosen  for  special  mention. 

The  following  species  taken  together  fairly  represent  the 
different  forms  of  Chelonians,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest : 

The  Alligator  Turtle,  (Macrochelys  lacertina),  is  the  larg- 
est fresh-water  chelonian  in  North  America.  In  form  and 
temper  it  resembles  the  common  snapping  turtle  of  the 
North,  and  its  home  is  in  the  Gulf  States.  The  largest  of 
the  two  Louisiana  specimens  on  exhibition  weighs  115 
pounds. 

The  Snapping  Turtle,  (Chelydra  serpcntina),  which  is  the 
most  courageous  and  pugnacious  of  all  turtles,  is  rather 
poorly  protected  by  its  shell,  and  must  therefore  fight  for  its 
place  in  nature. 

The  Painted  Turtle,    (Chrysemys  picta),  is  a  species  of 
wide  and  common  distribution,  and  fairly  representative  of 
the  host  of  fresh  water  terrapins  and  turtles  so  common 
throughout  the  United  States  in  ponds  and  streams  of  "11 
sorts. 

The  Box  Tortoise,  (Cistudo  Carolina},  lives  on  land,  and  as 
a  means  of  perfect  protection  has  been  enabled  by  nature 
completely  to  withdraw  its  head  and  legs  within  its  shell, 


174  POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 

and  by  means  of  a  hinge  across  the  middle  of  the  plastron, 
or  lower  shell,  to  close  it  tightly. 

The  Tortoise  and  Lizard  Yards. — At  the  eastern  end  of  the 
Reptile  House  is  a  commodious  glass-roofed  hall,  opening 
.  into  a  series  of  sandy  yards.  This  installation  is  occupied 
by  the  collection  of  tortoises  and  the  larger  tropical  lizards. 
These  reptiles  do  better  in  captivity,  and  show  to  best  ad- 
vantage, if  given  outdoor  sunlight  and  plenty  of  room  for 
exercise. 

The  Giant  Tortoises  are  among  the  most  interesting  of 
living  reptiles.  There  are  fourteen  distinct  species,  all  be- 
longing to  the  genus  Testudo.  These  creatures  appear  to  be 
survivors  of  the  reptilian  ages  when  reptiles  attained  colossal 
proportions.  Fossil  remains  of  the  great  tortoises  show 
these  creatures  to  have  formerly  inhabited  the  continents, 
but  the  survivors  are  restricted  to  isolated  groups  of  small 
islands  in  the  Pacific  and  Indian  Oceans.  Six  species  inhabit 
the  Galapagos  Islands  in  the  Pacific  Ocean.  Four  are  found 
in  the  Aldabra  Islands  in  the  Indian  Ocean,  and  four  in- 
habit the  Mauritius-Rodriguez  group  of  Islands.  All  the 
species  are  rapidly  becoming  extinct.  Recent  expeditions 
to  the  Galapagos  Islands  have  reported  that  very  few  Giant 
Tortoises  now  survive  in  those  islands. 

The  Giant  Tortoises  are  entirely  herbivorous.  The  speci- 
mens exhibited  consume  great  quantities  of  green  food, 
which  varies  in  kind  according  to  the  season's  supply.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  months  they  feed  largely  upon  melons. 

Among  the  species  exhibited  is  Testudo  iricina,  repre- 
sented by  our  largest  specimen,  captured  in  the  Galapagos 
Islands.  It  weighs  slightly  over  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  pounds.  Another  example  from  the  same  islands  repre- 
sents Testudo  nigrita,  a  smaller  and  flatter  species.  Testudo 
elephantina,  the  Elephant  Tortoise,  is  represented  by  a  large 
specimen  from  the  Aldabra  Islands,  which  is  growing 
rapidly.  The  latter  tortoise  has  a  very  high  shell,  and  pro- 
portionately small  head. 

The  Gopher  Tortoises,  (Testudo  Carolina) ,  are  large,  thick- 
shelled,  clumsy  creatures,  which  burrow  in  holes  in  the 
sandy  southern  regions  where  they  live.  Once  they  were 
common  in  southern  Florida,  but  their  edibility  has  resulted 
in  a  great  decrease  in  their  abundance. 

The  South  American  Tortoise,  (Testudo  tabulata),  is  a 
good  representative  of  the  smaller  tortoises  from  various 
parts  of  the  world.  It  is  common  throughout  tropical 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  175 

South  America  and  attains  a  maximum  length  of  shell  of 
about  14  inches.  The  shell  is  elongated  and  blackish,  each 
of  the  shields  having  a  yellowish  center.  Like  all  of  the 
tortoises,  this  is  a  herbivorous  reptile. 

The  Marine  Turtles.— At  the  New  York  Aquarium,  sit- 
uated in  Battery  Park,  and  managed  by  the  New  York 
Zoological  Society,  will  be  found  a  fine  collection  of  such 
large  sea-turtles  as  the  Loggerhead,  Green  Turtle  and 
Hawksbill,  which  require  salt  water. 

The  Soft-Shelled  Turtle,  (Aspidonectcs  fero.r).—As  to  liv- 
ing relatives,  this  strange  genus  seems  apropos  of  nothing. 
Like  some  of  the  marine  turtles  its  shell  is  greatly  reduced 
in  weight,  so  that  it  can  float  more  readily ;  instead  of  being 
solid  bone,  it  terminates  in  a  wide,  thin  edge  of  cartilage, 
which  is  so  soft  that  when  properly  boiled  it  constitutes 
palatable  food. 

THE  CROCODILES  AND  ALLIGATORS. 

The  Order  of  Crocodilians. — This  important  Order,  the 
members  of  which  are  widely  distributed  throughout  the 
tropics  and  sub-tropics  of  the  world,  contains  nineteen 
species.  At  this  point  it  is  well  to  correct  certain  very 
general  misapprehensions  regarding  crocodilians. 

Crocodiles  are  not  confined  to  the  Old  World;  at  least 
three  species  being  found  abundantly  in  tropical  America. 

The  "movement"  of  a  crocodile's  jaw  differs  in  no  man- 
ner whatever  from  that  of  an  alligator. 

Only  a  few  species  of  crocodiles  are  dangerous  to  man. 

There  is  no  authentic  record  of  the  loss  of  a  human  life 
through  our  common  alligator. 

The  Alligator  genus  embraces  the  American  Alligator, 
(A.  mississippiensis),  of  the  southern  United  States  and  a 
small  species  found  in  China !  The  head  of  the  Alligator  is 
very  flat  and  its  sides  are  nearly  parallel,  while  the  head  of 
a  typical  crocodile  is  nearly  triangular. 

The  American  Alligator  is  well  represented  in  the  Pool  in 
the  Reptile  House,  by  several  lusty  specimens,  all  of  which 
eat  voraciously,  are  growing  rapidly,  and  undoubtedly  en- 
joying life.  The  largest  specimen,  a  burly  monster  over 
twelve  feet  in  length,  has  grown  nearly  five  feet  in  length 
since  its  arrival  here  in  1899. 

In  summer,  the  Alligator  Pool  on  the  hill,  southeast  of  the 
Reptile  House,  is  well  stocked  with  alligators  of  various 


176 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


ALLIGATOR  POOL. 

sizes,  and  it  is  there  that  visitors  can  secure  most  realistic 
impressions  of  the  appearance  of  this  species  in  a  state  of 
nature,  and  in  abundant  numbers. 

Under  favorable  conditions, — warm  water  and  air,  good 
light,  plenty  of  room,  and  abundant  food, — the  Alligator 
grows  rapidly.  A  specimen  hatched  in  our  Reptile  House 
in  October,  1900,  was  in  January,  1911,  8  feet  3  inches  long, 
and  weighed  75  pounds. 

The  Crocodile  genus  is  widely  represented  throughout  the 
world.  Of  the  whole  eleven  species,  the  American  con- 
tinent contains  four — the  Florida  Crocodile,  (Crocodilus 
acutus  floridanus),  attaining  a  length  of  14  feet,  which  was 
discovered  at  the  head  of  Biscayne  Bay,  in  1875,  by  W.  T. 
Hornaday;  the  American  Crocodile,  (C.  acutus) ;  the  Sharp- 
nosed  Orinoco  Crocodile  (Crocodilus  intermedius),  found  in 
South  America ;  and  the  small  Crocodilus  rhombifer,  which 
is  found  only  in  Cuba  and  the  West  Indies. 

Of  the  seven  remaining  species,  Asia  contains  four,  and 
Africa  three.  Of  the  Asiatic  species,  one  frequents  salt 
water. 

The  Florida  Crocodile  is  now  represented  by  two  speci- 
mens nearly  9  feet  long,  from  Madina  Creek,  southern  Flor- 
ida, presented  by  Mr.  Julian  A.  Dimock.  It  is  to  be  recog- 
nized at  a  glance  by  its  dark  olive  color  and  sharp-pointed 
head.  This  is  the  only  species  of  crocodile  found  in  the 
United  States.  Its  maximum  length  is  14  feet  2  inches. 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


VENEZUELAN  BOA. 

The  Broad-Nosed  Crocodile,  (Osteolaemus  tetraspis),  of 
Africa,  is  represented  by  two  specimens.  This  species  is 
characterized  by  the  broad,  bony-looking  head.  It  is  one  of 
the  smaller  crocodilians  attaining  a  maximum  length  of  five 
feet. 

THE  LIZARDS. 

The  Tropical  Lizards. — Several  families  of  lizards  are 
represented  among  the  specimens  occupying  the  Reptile 
House,  the  Tortoise  room  and  outside  runways.  Among 
these  are  the  Iguanas,  Tegus  and  Monitors. 

Among  the  Iguanas  are  several  large  and  interesting  liz- 
ards. The  largest  of  these  is  the  Rhinoceros  Iguana,  (Cy- 
clura  cornuta),  found  in  Hayti.  Contrary  to  the  general 
belief,  but  like  all  the  Iguanas,  it  is  partly  carnivorous, 
though  it  feeds  largely  upon  vegetables  and  fruit.  This 
species  receives  its  name  from  the  presence  of  three  well- 
defined  horns  upon  the  snout. 

The  Mexican  Iguana,  (Ctenosaura  acanthura),  looks 
unique  in  the  possession  of  rings  of  sharp  spines  about  the 
tail.  Most  specimens  are  jet  black  when  adult,  but  very 
young  examples  are  pale  green. 

The  South  American  Iguana,  (Iguana  tuberculata) ,  may  be 
readily  distinguished  by  the  very  pronounced  fringe  of 


178  POPULAR   OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 

erect  spines  which  rise  along  the  back-bone  of  male  speci- 
mens, and  also  by  the  presence  of  a  rounded  tubercle  or 
plate  on  each  side  of  the  head.  This  is  a  brightly  colored 
Iguana,  having  bars  of  green,  gray  and  black.  It  is  strictly 
arboreal,  and  evinces  stronger  herbivorous  habits  than  spe- 
cies of  the  allied  genera.  A  large  male  specimen  is  seven 
feet  long,  but  much  of  this  length  is  taken  up  by  the  grad- 
ually tapering  tail.  In  South  America — on  the  Orinoco,  at 
least — this  species  is  considered  edible,  and  the  writer  can 
tesify  that  to  a  hungry  man  its  flesh  is  excellent. 

The  very  popular  Horned  "Toad,"  (Phrynosoma),  of  the 
southwestern  states,  of  which  there  are  eight  or  nine  species, 
should  be  mentioned  if  for  no  other  reason  than  to  place 
it  where  it  belongs — with  the  lizards,  and  not  with  the 
toads. 

The  Tegus,  (genus  Tupinambis),  are  powerful  lizards, 
growing  to  a  length  of  four  feet,  and  inhabiting  tropical 
South  America.  They  are  fleet  of  foot,  mainly  carnivorous 
and  very  quarrelsome.  It  is  impossible  to  keep  any  but  the 
larger  lizards  in  the  yard  with  them.  Tegus  are  fond  of 
eggs,  breaking  the  shell  at  one  end  and  lapping  up  the  con- 
tents by  means  of  the  very  broad,  forked  tongue.  They  will 
also  eat  raw  beef. 

The  Australian  Monitor,  (Varanus  gouldii),  is  a  good  rep- 
resentative of  a  genus  of  large  and  powerful  lizards  con- 
fined to  the  Old  World,  where  they  occur  in  India,  Malaysia, 
Africa  and  Australia.  Monitors  grow  to  a  length  of  eight 
feet.  They  are  swift  runners,  entirely  carnivorous,  and 
usually  dwell  in  thick  jungles.  They  are  able  to  swallow 
entire  an  animal  as  large  as  a  half-grown  rabbit.  All  are 
fond  of  eggs,  swallowing  them  without  breaking  the  shell, 
which  is  soon  dissolved  by  the  powerful  gastric  juices. 

Other  Lizards.— Within  the  main  halls  of  the  Reptile 
House  will  be  found  various  representatives  of  the  smaller 
Lizards,  a  few  of  which  may  be  mentioned. 

The  beautiful,  emerald-colored  Green  Lizard,  (Lacerta 
viridis) ,  of  Europe,  is  not  only  a  handsome  species,  but  it  is 
also  one  of  the  most  satisfactory  to  keep  in  a  vivarium — a 
good  feeder  and  always  posing. 

The  famous  Glass  "Snake,"  (Ophiosauris  ventralis],  is  im- 
portant because  its  resemblance  to  a  snake  is  so  perfect 
it  is  generally  mistaken  for  one,  although  a  true  lizard.  It 


NEW  YORK  ZOOLOGICAL  PARK.  179 

is  not,  however,  a  "connecting  link"  between  the  lizards 
and  the  serpents. 

Our  well-known  Gila  Monster,  (pronounced  He-la)  (Helo- 
derma  suspectum),  is  a  stupid,  slow-moving  creature  from  the 
southwestern  deserts,  thick-set  and  stumpy  in  body,  and  it 
has  the  appearance  of  being  covered  all  over  with  dark- 
brown-black,  and  yellow  beads,  such  as  Indians  use  in  their 
bead  industry.  Its  bite  is  sufficiently  venomous  that  it  in- 
flicts a  painful  wound,  but  it  is  not  necessarily  fatal. 

The  Chameleon  of  the  Old  World,  (Chamaelco  vulgaris), 
because  of  its  color  phases  and  its  remarkable  form,  is  truly 
a  great  "curiosity";  but  it  should  not  be  confused  with  our 
so-called  American  Chameleon,  which  belongs  to  another 
Family,  and  is  also  less  interesting. 

THE  SERPENTS. 

The  Order  of  Serpents,  (Ophidia).-The  large  glazed 
cases  along  the  northern  side  of  the  main  hall  of  the  Eeptile 
House  are  devoted  to  the  larger  serpents,  while  the  smaller 
species  are  provided  for  along  the  south  wall,  and  in  the 
adjoining  room.  One  serious  difficulty  in  the  management  of 
a  collection  of  living  serpents  lies  in  the  face  that  often  the 
most  valuable  specimens  are  so  nervous  and  shy  in  their 
feeding  habits  it  is  impossible  to  cage  several  together. 

Out  of  the  many  species  of  serpents  exhibited  in  the  Rep- 
tile House,  ten  are  chosen  as  fairly  representing  the  prin- 
cipal groups. 

The  Regal  Python,  (Python  reticulatus) ,  here  represented 
by  a  fine  specimen,  22  feet  in  length,  weighing  170  pounds, 
is  the  best  representative  of  the  rock  pythons  of  Asia  and 
Africa.  The  island  of  Borneo  is  its  center  of  distribution. 
None  of  the  constrictors  is  venomous,  but  their  crushing 
power  is  almost  beyond  belief. 

The  Rock  Python,  (Python  sebae),  of  Africa,  is  a  light- 
colored  species  with  a  very  small  head,  and  is  frequently 
seen  in  the  hands  and  around  the  necks  of  snake-charmers. 

The  Anaconda,  (Eunectes  muriniis),  is  one  of  the  largest 
constrictors  of  tropical  America,  and  is  noted  for  its  aquatic 
habits.  It  is  a  handsome  serpent,  being  of  a  rich  green 
color,  marked  with  large  black  spots. 

The  Black  Snake,  (Bascanium  constrictor),  a  common  spe- 
cies in  the  eastern  United  States,  is  probably  the  highest 


180 


POPULAR    OFFICIAL    OUIHK. 


RHINOCEROS   VIPER 

type  of  the  harmless  snakes.  It  is  a  serpent  of  great  vigor 
and  activity  in  running,  climbing,  and  swimming;  it  pos- 
sesses great  courage,  and  seeks  prey  of  many  kinds  in  all 
kinds  of  situations. 

The  Garter  Snake,  (Eutaenia  sirtalis),  is  more  frequently 
seen  in  the  eastern  United  States  than  any  other  serpent. 
Although  the  warfare  waged  against  it  is  perpetual,  regard- 
less of  the  fact  that  it  is  as  harmless  as  a  fly,  its  numbers  do 
not  sensibly  diminish. 

The  Hog-Nosed  Snake,  "Puff  Adder,"  or  "Sand- Viper," 
(Heterodon-platyrhinus),  represents  a  large  and  important 
Family,  and,  despite  its  dangerous  appearance  and  terrify- 
ing names,  it  is  quite  harmless.  It  represents  one  of  Na- 
ture's methods  for  protecting  harmless  and  inactive  crea- 
tures, by  making  them  resemble  others  which  are  dangerous. 

Venomous  Reptiles. — Because  of  the  number  of  species 
of  rattlesnakes  which  have  found  lodgment  in  the  United 
States,  and  the  trouble  they  have  caused  in  a  few  localities, 
we  are  specially  interested  in  all  serpents  which  are  danger- 
ous to  man.  The  species  named  below  represents  the  deadly 
genera  which  civilized  man  has  most  cause  to  fear. 

The  Harlequin  Snake,  or  Coral  Snake,  (Elaps  fulvius), 
represents  a  genus  which  contains  many  species,  though  but 
few  of  them  occur  in  America. 

The  King  Cobra,  (Naja  bungaris),  from  the  Malay  Penin- 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  181 


COBRA- DE-CAPELLO. 

sula,  often  called  Snake-Eating  Cobra,  is  the  most  dangerous 
of  all  serpents,  because  it  is  the  largest  and  the  most  ath- 
letic of  the  venomous  species,  and  for  its  bite  there  is  no 
effective  antidote.  It  feeds  only  on  living  snakes.  The  fine 
specimen  exhibited  is  about  ten  feet  in  length. 

The  Cobra-de-Capello,  (Naja  tripudians),  of  which  some 
Cne  specimens  are  shown,  is  the  terror  of  India,  where  it 
kills  between  18,000  and  20,000  people  annually!  This 
is  the  most  deadly  of  all  serpents.  For  its  bite,  science  has 
thus  far  been  powerless  to  find  an  antidote,  although  Dr. 
Albert  Calmette,  of  Lille,  France,  experimenting  extensively 
in  this  direction,  has  secured  partially  successful  results. 

The  most  vicious  snake  in  North  America,  and  one  of 
the  ugliest  in  appearance,  is  the  Water  Moccasin,  (Ancis- 
trodon  piscivorus) , — closely  related  to  the  beautiful  Copper- 
head, (A.  contortrix}.  It  is  more  dreaded  in  the  South  than 
the  rattler,  because  it  strikes  on  the  slightest  provocation, 
and  without  the  rattler's  timely  warning.  Its  colors  are 
dull,  its  scales  rough,  its  body  ill-shaped  and  clumsy,  its 
temper  is  vicious,  and  for  every  reason  it  is  a  serpent  to  be 
disliked. 

The  Diamond-Back  Rattlesnake,  (Crotalus  adamant  eus),  is 
too  handsome,  too  showy,  and  too  large  to  be  chosen  as  the 
best  average  type  of  the  genus  Crotalus;  but  he  is  king  of 
his  kind,  and  cannot  be  ignored.  Three  species  shown  side 


182  POPULAR    OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 

by  side  in  our  Reptile  House  afford  striking  examples  of 
protective  coloration.  The  Diamond-Back  Rattler  of  Florida 
and  the  South  is  yellow,  brown,  and  black,  to  match  the 
checkers  of  sunbeam  and  shadow  that  fall  upon  the  sands 
under  the  palmetto  leaves. 

THE  BATEACHIANS,  OE  AMPHIBIANS. 

Among  the  many  wonders  of  Nature,  none  is  more  in- 
teresting than  those  forms  which  serve  to  connect  the  great 
groups  of  vertebrate  animals,  by  bridging  over  what  other- 
wise would  seem  like  impassable  chasms. 

Between  the  birds  and  the  reptiles  there  is  a  fossil  bird, 
called  the  Archaeopteryx,  with  a  long,  vertebrated,  lizard- 
like  tail,  which  is  covered  with  feathers,  and  the  Hesperornis. 
a  water  bird  with  teeth,  but  no  wings,  which  inhabited  thn 
shores  of  the  great  western  lake  which  has  already  yielded 
to  American  paleontologists  a  great  number  of  most  remark- 
able fossil  forms. 

Between  the  reptiles  and  the  fishes,  stretches  a  wonderful 
chain  of  living  links  by  which  those  two  Classes  of  verte- 
brates are  so  closely  and  unbrokenly  united,  and  by  such 
an  array  of  forms,  that  they  constitute  an  independent  Class, 
the  Batrachia,  or  Amphibia.  In  the  transition  from  water 
to  land,  from  fins  and  gills  to  legs  and  lungs,  Nature  ha.i 
made  some  strange  combinations.  In  some  instances  tho 
fins,  legs,  lungs  and  gills  have  become  so  mixed  that  several 
notable  misfits  have  resulted,  and  in  some  cases  we  see  gills 
and  legs  going  together,  while  in  other  lungs  and  fins  are 
associated. 

The  Reptile  House  contains  about  two  dozen  species  of 
Amphibians,  and  it  is  reasonaly  certain  that  this  number 
will  be  maintained  and  increased.  They  are  to  be  found 
in  small  aquarium  cases,  ranged  along  the  south  side  and 
eastern  end  of  the  Main  Hall. 

The  Bullfrog,  (Rana  catesbiana) ,  is  a  fair  representative 
of  the  Batrachians  which  stand  nearest  to  the  true  land- 
going  reptiles.  During  the  early  stages  of  its  existence  it  is 
in  turn,  a  fin-tailed  tadpole  with  no  legs,  a  short-tailed  tad- 
pole with  a  pair  of  front  legs,  a  shorter-tailed  tadpole  with 
four  legs,  and  finally  a  fully-developed,  land-going  frog 
with  a  voice  like  a  small  bull,  and  no  tail  whatever.  Of  the 
genus  Rana,  there  are  five  species  in  the  eastern  United 
States,  several  of  which  inhabit  the  Zoological  Park. 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  183 

The  Wood  Frog,  (Rana  sylvatica),  is  frequently  seen  in 
moist  valleys  in  the  Zoological  Park,  where  its  chocolate 
brown  back  so  closely  matches  the  color  of  the  dead  leaves 
and  moist  earth ;  it  is  difficult  to  find,  save  when  it  takes  one 
of  its  flying  leaps.  The  specimens  shown  were  taken  near 
the  Beaver  Pond. 

The  Tree  Frog,  (Hyla  pickeringi),  is  the  commonest  of 
the  queer  little  tree-loving  species  which  are  so  easy  to  hear, 
and  so  difficult  to  find.  In  spring  their  voices  are  the  first 
to  be  heard  in  the  swamps.  The  Zoological  Park  is  full  of 
Hylas,  and  their  cheerful  piping  is  heard  at  all  seasons, 
especially  in  dry  midsummer,  when  dark  storm-clouds 
gather  and  promise  rain. 

The  Common  Toad,  (Bufo  lentiginosus\  is  found  in  the 
Zoological  Park,  though  not  in  such  abundance  as  the  two 
preceding  species. 

Among  the  most  remarkable  creatures  in  the  Reptile 
House  are  the  specimens  of  Smooth-Clawed  Frog,  (Xenopus 
laevis),  from  Africa  and  The  Surinam  Toad,  (Pipa  americana). 
Both  of  these  species  are  strictly  aquatic  and  have  broadly 
palmated  hind  feet.  The  Surinam  Toad  comes  from  Dutch 
Guiana.  It  is  unique  in  its  breeding  habits.  The  male  col- 
lects the  eggs  and  places  them  on  the  female's  back  where 
they  are  engulfed  in  large  folds  of  the  skin,  which  form 
cells  in  which  the  metamorphosis  occurs. 

The  Spotted  Salamander,  (Salamandra  maculosa),  because 
of  its  broad,  bright  yellow  bands  and  blotches,  laid  on  a 
rich,  dark-brown  body  color,  is  one  of  the  most  showy  of  all 
Amphibians.  It  comes  from  Europe,  and  being  much  prized 
in  collections,  it  frequently  passes  through  the  hands  of 
dealers  in  reptiles.  Its  skin  is  very  moist  and  clammy, 
which  gives  the  creature  the  appearance  of  having  been 
varnished.  This  is  the  creature  which  is  supposed  to  be 
able  to  withstand  fire — a  belief  which  is  purely  imaginative. 

The  Tiger  Salamander  or  Axolotl,  (Amblystoma  tigrinum), 
is  a  widely  different  creature  from  the  preceding.  It  is 
found  throughout  the  greater  portion  of  the  North  Amer- 
ican continent,  and  as  far  south  as  Central  Mexico.  Thir- 
teen other  species  of  the  genus  Amblystoma  are  found  in 
North  America  and  Mexico.  In  the  matter  of  "harmoniz- 
ing with  environment,"  the  Amblystoma  is  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  -  creatures  in  existence.  In  its  larval  stage 
(corresponding  with  the  tadpole  stage  of  a  frog),  this  ani- 


184 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


METAMORPHOSIS  OF  THE  LEOPA-RD  FROQ. 

mal  possesses  external  gills,  red  and  sponge-like  in  appear- 
ance, and  its  tail  has  a  fin-like  edge  above  and  below,  like 
the  tail  of  an  eel. 

So  long  as  this  larval  creature  remains  in  water,  its  ex- 
ternal gills  remain  and  do  duty,  and  the  larval  stage  con- 
tinues indefinitely.  Remove  it  from  water,  or  let  its  home 
pool  dry  up,  and,  presto!  its  gills  dry  up,  its  tail  loses  its 
fin-like  edges,  and  the  creature  goes  about  on  land,  breath- 
ing air  instead  of  water,  with  lungs  instead  of  gills. 

The  "Water-Dog"  or  "Hellbender,"  (Cryptobranchus 
allegheniensis),  is  a  salamander-like  amphibian,  from  18  to  22 
inches  long  when  adult,  found  more  frequently  in  Penn- 
sylvania than  elsewhere.  They  are  said  to  be  very  tena- 
cious of  life,  and  voracious  in  their  food  habits,  feeding  on 
worms,  minnows  and  crayfish,  and  often  taking  the  hook  of 
the  fisherman  in  quest  of  that  most  repulsive  of  all  Amer- 
ican fishes,  the  cat-fish.  Between  cat-fish  and  water-dog 
there  would  seem  to  be  small  choice.  Mr.  William  Frear 
offers  this  testimony  in  regard  to  the  tenacity  of  life  of  this 
creature : 

"One  specimen,  about  18  inches  in  length,  which  had  lain 
on  the  ground  exposed  to  a  summer  sun  for  48  hours,  was 
brought  to  the  museum,  and  left  lying  a  day  longer  before 
it  was  placed  in  alcohol.  The  dny  following,  desiring  to 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  185 

note  a  few  points  of  structure,  I  removed  it  from  the  alcohol 
in  which  it  had  been  completely  submerged  for  at  least 
20  hours,  and  had  no  sooner  placed  in  on  the  table  than  it 
began  to  open  its  big  mouth,  vigorously  sway  its  tail  to  and 
fro,  and  give  other  undoubted  signs  of  vitality." 

The  Congo  Snake,  or  Amphiuma,  (Amphiuma  means),  is 
a  creature  which  closely  resembles  a  thick-tailed  snake. 
A  close  examination,  however,  discloses  a  tiny  pair  of  front 
legs ;  and  far  back,  well  toward  the  end  of  the  tail,  a  small 
pair  of  hind  legs  appear.  These  are  about  as  valuable  to 
the  animal  as  the  tiger's  clavicle  is  to  him.  There  are  but 
two  species  belonging  to  this  strange  genus,  both  of  which 
are  found  in  the  stagnant  waters  of  our  southeastern  states. 
Still  lower  than  the  amphiuma,  is  The  Mud  Eel,  (Siren  lacer- 
tina),  of  the  southeastern  quarter  of  the  United  States, 
which  possesses  small  external  gills,  and  only  one  pair  of 
legs,  which  are  in  front. 

The  Menobranchus,  or  Mud  Puppy,  (Necturus  maculatus}, 
possesses  external  gills  and  four  legs,  and  inhabits  many  of 
the  rivers  of  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  Indiana,  the  great  lakes 
and  also  the  lakes  of  northern  New  York.  It  is  often  taken 
in  fisherman 's  nets. 

THE  INSECT  COLLECTION.* 

A  collection  of  insects  was  formed  and  placed  on  exhibi- 
tion during  the  early  summer  of  1910.  While  this  first 
exhibit  was  not  elaborate,  it  excited  such  interest  that  it 
was  decided  to  enlarge  it,  by  taking  advantage  of  the  sea- 
son which  then  was  at  its  best  for  insect  collecting. 

A  series  of  long  shelves  has  been  built  in  the  Pavilion 
between  the  Small-Mammal  House  and  the  Ostrich  House, 
and  thirty-five  glass-fronted  cages,  together  with  a  row  of 
aquaria  for  aquatic  specimens,  were  installed.  A  number 
of  collecting  trips  were  made  into  the  country  within  a 
radius  of  twenty-five  miles  of  the  city,  with  such  marked 
success,  that  by  the  middle  of  July  the  collection  was  pro- 
nounced by  a  number  of  visitors  to  equal  in  interest  any 
exhibition  of  the  kind  heretofore  attempted  in  this  country, 
or  in  Europe.  In  view  of  the  marked  interest  created  by 
this  display,  the  insect  collection  will  hereafter  be  a  perma- 
nent feature  of  the  Park. 

— ^rhiq  interesting  collection  was  formed,  Installed  and  labeled  by 
Curator R  L  Ditoars,  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.- Charles  Snyder  and 
SheV  members  of  the  Department  of  Reptiles. 


186  POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


GIANT    CENTIPEDE. 

There  are  so  many  possibilities  in  exhibiting  living  in- 
sects that  it  is  difficult  to  select  groups  to  feature  for  the 
summer.  Our  efforts  were  first  directed  toward  exhibiting  a 
series  of  the  different  insects  that  sing,  and  also  a  series 
of  species  injurious  to  the  interests  of  the  agriculturists, 
together  with  a  number  of  the  insects  that  prey  upon  the 
noxious  species.  The  collection  of  singing  insects  was  a 
marked  success  and  will  hereafter  be  continued  each  summer. 

We  are  gathering  from  both  the  Old  World  and  the  New, 
a  fine  collection  of  the  larger  silk  moths.  The  cocoons  will 
be  shown  on  panels,  and  inasmuch  as  a  number  of  the 
moths  will  be  emerging  daily,  this  exhibit  should  be  instruc- 
tive. During  the  winter  the  insect  collection  is  made  up 
largely  of  tropical  species ;  and  in  this  series  we  include  the 
large  bird-killing  spiders,  scorpions  and  centipedes,  even 
though  these  creatures  are  not  to  be  classified  as  true  insects. 

The  collection  of  singing  insects  of  the  past  summer  was 
composed  of  the  meadow  locust,  greater  and  lesser  cone- 
headed  locust,  the  Katy-did,  broad-winged  locust,  field 
cricket,  lesser  field  cricket,  smooth-winged  cricket  and  two 
species  of  the  tree  crickets.  There  were  about  five  hundred 
specimens  in  the  collection,  and  at  times  the  noise  made 
by  them  was  so  great  that  visitors  had  to  shout  to  one  an- 
other to  make  their  own  voices  audible.  The  sounds  coming 
from  this  collection  varied  according  to  the  time  of  day. 
It  was  late  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  larger  locusts  com- 
menced their  singing  (which  continued  throughout  the 
night),  and  inasmuch  as  the  strictly  diurnal  species  were  yet 
active,  the  insect  chorus  was  quite  vociferous. 

It  is  only  with  considerable  difficulty  that  singing  insects 
are  collected.  The  best  time  to  capture  them  is  at 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK.  187 


TARANTULA.  RED-WINGED    LOCUST. 

HERCULES   BEETLE. 

night,  when  the  collector  stalks  the  loudest  singers,  and  by 
approaching  within  definite  investigating  distance,  can  ac- 
curately locate  the  insects  by  bringing  into  use  an  electric 
flash-lamp.  The  glare  of  the  light  usually  causes  the  insect 
to  stop  its  calls,  but  it  remains  motionless  upon  a  branch  or 
leaf  and  may  be  grasped  with  a  delicate  pair  of  forceps, 
provided  the  movements  of  the  collector's  arm  are  performed 
outside  the  rays  of  light.  If  the  locust  has  become  silent 
and  cannot  be  detected  when  the  light  is  thrown  upon  it, 
the  collector  simply  switches  off  the  light  and  remains 
quiet.  In  a  few  minutes  the  creature  continues  its  song, 
when  its  exact  location  is  again  determined.  In  this  way 
the  night  songsters  of  a  big  meadow  are  collected,  one  by 
one,  and  the  collector  leaves  behind  him  a  silent  field  that  a 
few  hours  before  resounded  with  the  stridulations  of  the 
insect  chorus. 

Among  the  more  interesting  insects  exhibited,  in  our 
series  are  to  be  found  the  walking-stick,  the  praying  mantis, 
the  huge  red-winged  locust  of  the  South,  the  Egyptian 
scarab,  the  luminous  beetle  of  Central  and  South  Americn. 
and  broods  of  silk  worm.  The  life  history  of  the  mosquito 
will  be  permanently  illustrated  in  a  series  of  tanks,  and  ad- 
joining trese  an  exhibit  of  natural  enemies  of  these  pests. 

The  inseot  collection  is  supplied  with  interesting  descrip- 
tive labels.  During  the  latter  part  of  spring  it  is  removed 
from  the  Reptile  House,  where,  during  the  winter  the  num- 
ber of  its  cages  are  much  reduced,  and  replaced  in  the 
quarters  occupied  during  the  summer. 


INDEX. 


Access,  means  of,  16 

Admission,   17 

Aix  galericttlata,   155 

sponsa,    155 
Agouti,  111 
Alpaca,  54,  56 
Amblystoma  tigrinum,  183 
Amphiuma  means,  185 
Anaconda,  179 
Anas  boschas,  153 
Ancistrodon  contortrix,  181 

piscivorus,  181 
Anser  anser,  134 

albifrons,  134 
Ant-eater,  great  113 
Antelope,  addax  3'J 

beatrix  40 

beisa  40 

duiker  47 

prong-horned  51 

sable  39,  40,  43 

sabre  39 

sasin  46,  47 

Antelopes,  small  African,  46 
AnthropopithecHS  calvus,  81,  84 
Anthropoides  virgo,  168 
Antidorcas,  48 
Antigone  antigone,  168 
Antilocapra  americana,  51 
Antilocapridae,  51 
Antilope  cervicapra,  47 
Antlers,  development  of,  5S,  Cl 
Aoudad,  34 
Ape  Barbary,  86 
*   black,  86 
Aquila  chrysaetos,  145 
Arctictis  binturong,  108 
Ardea  ameticana,  138 

herodias,  138 
Argusianus  argus,  161 
Armadillo,  nine-banded,  112 

six-banded,  112,  114 

three-banded.  112 
Ass,  Persian  Wild,  66 
Aurochs,  29 
Aviary,  eagle  and  vulture,  143 

goose,  133 

pheasant,  155 
Axis  axis,  67 
Axis  deer,  67 
Aythya  americana,  154 

vallisneria,  154 
Baboon,  85 

golden,  86 

hamadryas,  86 

long-armed  yellow,  86 
Bactrachians,  182 
Badger,  American,  110 

European,  110 
Balearica  paronina,  169 
Bascanium  constrictor,  179 
Bear,  Admiralty,  124 

Andean  black,  125 

black,  124 

brown,  125,  127 

hairy-eared,  126 

Himalayan  black,   126 

Isabella,  126 

Japanese  black,  127 

Peninsula,  123 


Bear,  Polar,  120,  121,  122 

sloth,  127 

spectacled,  125,  126 

Syrian,  125 

Yakutat,  122 

Beaver,  American,  110,  129 
Big-horn,  32 
Binturong,  108 
Birds,  list  of,  152 
Bison,  American,  26,  27 

European,  27 

ranges,  26 
Black  buck,  47 
Blastoceros  paludosus,  44 
Blessbok,  41 
Bos  americanus,  27 

primigenius,  29 
Brady  pus  tridactylus,  114 
Brant  a  canadensis,  134 
Brocket,  black-faced,  45 
Bubo  bubo,  141 

lacteus,  142 

I'irginianus,  142 
Bufo  lentiginosus,   183 
Burrhel,  32,  34 
B\>teo  borealis,  144 
Cage,  flying,  135,  136 
Camel,  bactrian,  53,  54 
Camelus  dromedarius,  55 
Cameloids,  55 
Cams  azarae,  109 

dingo,  109 

latrans,  99 

mesomelas,  108 

nubilis,  98 
Capybara,  111 
Caribou,  woodland,  62 

Barren-Ground,  63 
Casarca  casarca,  155 

variegata,  155 
Cassowary,  Ceram,  165 
CitStor  canadensis,  110,   129 
Cat,  common  civet,  107 

jungle.   106 

Malayan,  107 

margay,  106 

wild.  107 

yaguarundi,  106 
Catharista  urubu,  144 

urobitinga,  144 
Cebus  hypoleucus,  81 
Cephalophus  grimmi,  47 
Cercocebus  collaris,  81,  87 
Cert'icapra  arundinum,  47 
Cen'us  canadensis,  57 

canadensis  asiaticus,  70 

duvauceli,  70 

elaphus.  71 

eldi,  69 

equinus.  70 

moral,  71 

moluccensis,  45 

muntjac,  45 

porcinus,  45 

schomburgki,  44 

unicolor,  45,  70 
Chameleon.  179 
Chamois,  33,  35 
Cheetah,  77 
Chelydra  serpentina,  173 

188 


NEW    YORK   ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


189 


Chelonia,  172 
Chen  hyperborea,  135 
Chenopsis  atrata,  135 
Chimpanzee,  81,  84 
Choloepus  hoffmani,  114 
Chrysemys  picta,  173 
Chrysolophus  amherstiae,  158 
dirysolophus  pictus,  158 
Chrysothrix  sciurea,  81,  88 
Ciconia  ciconia,  138 
Cistudo  Carolina,  173 
Coati-mundi,  109 

red,  109 

white-nosed,  109 
Cobra-de-capello,  181 

king,  180 

Cobus  unctuosus,  41 
Collections,  arrangement  of,  11 

census  of,  11 
Connochaetes  gnu,  38 

albojubatus,  39 
-Condor,  California,  144 

South  American,  143 
Conidae,  152 
Coscoroba  coscoroba,  135 
Coyote,  99,  100 
Crane,  Asiatic,  white  168 

crowned,   169 

demoiselle,  167,  168 

little  brown,  167 

paradise.  168 

sandhill,  1.38,   167 

sarus,  16d 

whooping,  167,  169 
Crocodile,  American,  176 

broad-nosed,  177 

Florida,   176 

sharp-nosed  Orinoco,  176 
Crocodilus  acutus,  176 
acutus  floridanus,  176 

intermedius,  176 

osteolaemus  tetraspis,  177 
Crotalus  adamanteus,  181 
Cryptobranchiis  allegheniensis,  184 
Ctenosaura  acanthura,  177 
Cyclura  cornuta,  177 
Cynoinys  ludovicianus,  118 
Cygnus  buccinator,  135 

" olor,  134 
Dama  vulgaris,  68 
Damaliscus  albifrons,  41 
Dasyprocta,  111 
Dasypus  sexcinctus,  112 
Deer,  axis,  67,  68 

barasingha,  70 

Columbian  black-tailed,  62 

Eld,  69 

European  red,  71 

fallow,  68 

hog,  45 

horse-tailed,  70 

Japanese  sika,  67 

jumping,  60 

maral,  71 

marsh,  44 

Molucca,  45 

mule,  60 

musk,  46 

Osceola,  white-tailed,  43 

rib-faced,  45 

Indian  sambar,  70 


Deer,  Malay  sambar,  70 

Schomburgk,  44 

Sinaloa  white-tailed,  44 

swamp,  70 

white-tailed,  62 
Dens,  bear,  119 

fox,  101 

wolf,  98 
Dingo,  109 
Dog,  Australian,  109 

Azara,  109 

raccoon,  109 
Dromedary,  55 
Dromaeus  novae-hollandiae,  165 
Duck,  canvas  back,  154 

lesser  scaup,  155 

mallard,  153 

mandarin,  155 

pintail,  153 

red- head,  154 

shoveller,  154 

wood,  155 

Duiker,  antelope,  47 
Eagle,  bald,  146 

bateleur,  145 

golden,  145 

harpy,  144 

vulturine  sea,  146 

white-breasted,  146 
Egret,  American,  140 

snowy,  139 

Egretta  candidissima,  139 
Eland,  38,  42 
Elaps  fuk'ius,  180 
Elephant,  Indian,  91,  92 

Sudan  African,  92,93 

West  African,  93 
Elephas,  capensis,  92 

cyclotis,  92,  93 

indicus,  91 

knochenhaueri,  92 

oxyotis,  92 
Elk,  American,  57 
Entrances,  17 
Equus  burchelli  chapmant,  66 

burchelli  granti,  65 

grevyi,  65 

onager,  66 

persicus,   66 

prjevalskii,  64 

zebra,  64 

Erethizon  dorsatus,  110 
Eulabia  indica,  134 
Eunectes  murinus,   179 
Falco  islandus,  146 
Fallow  Deer,  68 
Felis  bengalensis,  106 

concolor,  78 
Felis  nebulosa,  105 

onca,  76 

pafdalis,  106 

served,  105 

tigrina,  106 

uncia,  77 
yaguarundi,  106 
Florida  caerulea,  139 
Forests,  23 

Four-horned  antelope,  47 
Flamingo,  American,  136 

European,  137 


90 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL   GUIDE. 


ox,  Arctic,  108 
black,  101 
blue,  108 
cross,  101 
gray,  102 
kit,  101,  108 
large-eared  swift,  102 
New  Mexico,  desert,  108 
red,  101,  103 
silver,  101 
swift,  101,  102,  108 
rog,  smooth-clawed,  183 
tree,  183 
wood,  183 
izello.  benneti,  49 
azelle,  dorcas,  48 
?nnaeos  nycthemerus,   159 
ibbon,  84 
lla  monster,  179 
raffa  camelopardalis,  36,  37,  38 
capensis,  37 
reticulata,  37 
iraffe,  five-horned,  37 
Nubian,  36,  38 
two-horned,  37 
nu,  brindled,  39 
white-tailed,  38.  41 
oat,   Persian  wild,  33 
Rocky  Mountain,  33,  49,  50 
>ose,  African  spur-winged,  134 
bar-headed,  134 
Canada,  134 
coscoroba,  135 
gray-lag,  134 
snow,  135 
white-fronted,  134 
rounds,  physical  aspect  of,  21 
fus  americana,  167 
mexicana,  167 
tara  rubra,  137 
aanaco,  56 

tmnogyps  californianus,  144 
tpaetus  barbatus,  145 
tpagus  papa,  143 
ipohierax  angolensis,  146 
fps  pulvus,  144 
ilia  et  us  leucocephalus,  146 
leucogaster,  146 
apale  jacchtts,  81,  88 
awk,  red-tailed,  144 
ellbender,  184 
flotarsus  ecaudatus,  145 
emitragus  jemlaicus,  34 
eron,  black-crowned,  139 
great  blue,  138 
great  white,  138 
little  blue,  139 
Louisiana.  139 
snowy,  139 
erodias  egretta,  140 
erpestes  ichneumon,  108 
ippopotamus,  96,  97 
ippotragus  niger,   39,  40 
og  Deer,  45 
orned  "toad,"  178 
orse,  Prjevalsky,  64,  65 
ouse,  antelope,  35,  36 
aquatic-bird,  141 
camel,  53 
elephant,  89 
large  bird,  146 


House,  lion,  71,  72 

llama,  55 

ostrich,  162 

primate,  80 

puma  and  lynx,  115 

reptile,  171 
small-deer,  42,  44 

small-mammal,  104 

zebra,  63 

Hydrochaerus  capybara,   111 
Hylobates  leuciscus,  81,  84 
Hystrix  cristata,  110 

longicauda,  110 
Ibis,  scarlet,  137 

white-faced,  137 

wood,  137 

Ichneumon,  African,  108 
Icteridoe,  152 
Iguana,  Mexican,  177 

rhinoceros,  177 

South  American,  177 

tuberculata,  177 
Income,  sources  of,  13 
Insects,  186 

Jackal,  black-backed,  108 
Jaguar,  76 
Jungle  cat,  106 
Lacerta  viridis,  178 
Lama  glama,  56 

guanacus,  56 

pacos,  56 

vicunia,  56 
Lammergeyer,  145 
Llama,  56 
Leopard,  black,  77 
Leopard,  76 

clouded,   105 

hunting,  77 

snow,  75,  77 
Lemur  catta,  81,  89 

ring-tailed,  81.  89 

ruffed.  89 

slow,  81,  89 

T'aria,  89 

Leucoryx  antelope,  39.  41 
Lion,  73 

Barbary,  74 

mountain,  78 
Lizards,  177 
Location  of  Park,  15 
Lophophorus  impeyanus,   161 
Lutra  canadensis,   103 
Lynx,  bay,  107 

Canada,  116 

spotted,  107 
Macacus  entellus,  81,  86 

fuscatus,  81.  86,  88 

nemestrinus ,  81,   86,  88 

rhesus,  81,  86 
Macaws,  149 
Macropus  rufus,  50 
Mammals,  25 

burrowing,  116 

egg-laying,  115 

toothless,   112 
Mandrill,  85 
Margay  cat.  106 
Markhor  Suleiman,  31,  33 
Marmoset,  81,  88 
Marsh  deer,  44 


NEW    YORK    ZOOLOGICAL    PARK. 


19: 


Mazama  temo,  «5 
Meleagris  gallopavo  silvestris,  146 
Aleles  taxus,  110 
Molucca  deer,  45 
Monkey,  black  sp'.der,  87 
entellus,  86 
gray  spider,  87 
green,  87 
howling,  87 
moia,  87 
pig- tailed,  86,  88 
rhesus,  86 
squirrel,  88 

Moschus  mosctiiferus,  46 
Mouflon,  32,  34 
Mountain  sheep,  big-horn,  32 
Mud  eel,  185 
puppy,  185 
Muntjac  deer,  45 
Musk  deer,  46 
Musk-ox,   31 
Myopotamus  coypu,  104 
Myrmecophagc.  jubata,  113 
Nasua  rufa,  109 
Naja  bungaris,  180 

tripudians,  181 
Necturus  maculatus,  185 
Nettion  carolinensis,  153 
Nilgai,  41 
Nyctea  nyctea,  142 
Nyctereutes  procyonoides,  u>» 
Ocelot,  106 

Odocoileus  columbianus,  60,  6<i 
hemionus,  60 
sinaloae,  44 
virginianus,  62 
virginianus  osceola,  43 
Onager,  66 
Ophidia,  179 
Ophiosauris  ventrahs,  1<» 
Orang-utan,  83,  84 
Oreamnos  montanus,  1>U 
Oryx,  beatrix,  40 
beisa,  40 
leucoryx,  39 
Otter,  American,  103 
Otus  asio,  142 
Ounce,  77 
Ovibos  wardi,  31 
Ovis  burrhel,  34 
canadensis,  32 
cycloceros,  34 
Ot'w  musimon,  34 
tragelaphus,  34 
Owl,  barred.  142 
giant  eagle,  141 
great  horned,  141 
milky,  eagle,  141 
screech,  142 
snowy,  141 
Papio  babuin,  81,  85 
hamadryas,  81,  86 
mormon,  81,  85 
Paradoxure,  black,  U 
Malayan,  108 
white-whiskered,  107 
Paradoxurus  hermaphrodites,  K 
/^wcomyjfa^r,  107 
wig^r,  108 
Passeres,  151 
Pelicans.  140 


-'elicanus  occidentalis,  140 

erthrorhynchos,  140 
Peccary,  collared,  50 
Phacochaerus  aethiopicus,  50 
Phasianus  colchicus,  160 
mongolicus,  160 
soemmerringii,  160 
torquatus,  160 
Pheasant,  Amherst,  158 
Argus,  161 
copper,  160 
English,  160 
golden,  158 
impeyan,  161 
Mongolian,  160 
Reeve,  160 
ring-necked,  160 
silver,  159 
Soemmerring,  160 
Pheonicopterus  ruber,  136 

roseus,  137 
Phrynosoma,  178 
Pigeon,  bleeding-heart,  149 

great  crowned,  150 
Pipa  americana,   183 
Plegadis  guarauna,   137 
Porcupine,  African,  110,  111 

Brazilian  tree,131 
Canada,    110 

Indian  crestless,  110 
Portax  tragocamelus,  41 
Potamochaerus  pencillatus,  50 
Prairie  "dog"  village,  118 
Primates,  81 
Puma,  78,  116 
Python,  regal,  179 
rock,  179 
reticulatus,  179 
sebae,  179 

Querquedula  discors,  153 
Rabbit  family,  11V 
Rana  catesbiana,  182 

sylvatica,  183 
Rangifer,  caribou,  62 
granti,  63 
osbornt,  63 
stonei,  63 
tarandus,  63 
Rat,  coypu,  104 
Rattlesnake,  diamond-back,  II 
Red  river- hog,  50 
Reedbuck,  47 
Reindeer,  Lapland,  63 
Reptiles,  171 
synopsis,  172 
venomous,  180 

Restaurant,  Rocking  Stone,  li 
Rhea,  164 

Rhinoceros,  African  two-horned, 
Indian,  95 
white,  96 

square-mouthed,  96 
bicornis,  94 
unicornis,  95 
Rodents,  list  of,  131 
Rodent-Reptile  collection,  130 
Rocking  Stone,  23 
Rupicapra  tragus,  35 
Sable  antelope,  40    43 
Salamander,  spotted,  ISd 
tiger,  183 


192 


POPULAR   OFFICIAL    GUIDE. 


Sapajou,  87 

Sarcogeranus  leucogeranus,  168 

Sasin  antelope,  47 

Seal,  harbor,  80 

Sea-lion,  California,  78 

Secretary  bird,  166 

Serpentarius  serpentarius,  166 

Serval,  105 

Sewellel  family,  117 

Sheep,  arcal,  32,  34 

arcal  mountain,  34 

Barbary  wild,  34 

blue  mountain,  34 
Sheldrake,  paradise,  15i 

ruddy,  155 

tadorna,  155 
Siamang,  89 
Siren  lacertina,  185 
Sloths,  114 
Snake,  black,  179 

coral,  180 

garter,  180 

harlequin,  180 

hog-nosed,  180 
Springbuck,  48 
Squirrels,  117 
Statistics,  10 
Stork,  white,  138 
Struthio  australis,  168 

camelus,  164 
Suricate,  108 
Swan,  black,  135 

mute,  134 

trumpeter,  135 
Syrmaticus  reevesi,  160 
Syrnium  varium,  142 
Tadorna  tadorna,  155 
Tagassu  angulatum,  50 
Tahr,  Himalayan,  32 
Tamandua,  112,  114 
Tantalus  loculator,  137 
Tapirs,  97,  98 
Tapirus  indicus,  98 
Tapirus  terrestris,  97 
Tatu  novemcinctum,  112 
Taurotragus  oryx,  38 
Taxidea  americana,  110 
Tegu,  178 
Telegalla,  166 
Testudo,  Carolina,  174 

elephantina,  174 

nigrita,  174 

tabulata,  174 

vicina,  174 

Tetraceros  quadricornis,  47 
Tetrapteryx  paradisea,  168 
Thrasaetus  harpyia,  144 
Thylacinus  cynocephalus,  103 
Tiger,  75 
Toad,  common,  183 

Surinam,  183 
Tortoise,  box  173 

giant,  173,  174 

gopher,  174 

South  American,  174 
Turkey,  brush,  166 

wild,  146 


Turtle,  alligator,  173 

marine,  175 

painted,  173 

snapping,   173 

soft-shell,  175 
Ungulates,  summary  or,  25 
Urocyon  virginianus,  102 
Ursns,  americanus,  121,  124 

arctos,  125 

dalli,  120,  122 

emmonsi,  121 

eu-lophus,  120,  124 

floridanus,   121 

gyas,  120,  123 

horribilis,  121,  124 

horribilis  horriaeus,  121 

japonicus,  127 

kermodei,  121 

labiatus,  127 

luteolus,   121 

maritimus,  120,  121 

middendorffi,  120 

ornatus,   125 

ornatus,  thomasi,  125 
Ursus,    piscator,  126 

richardsoni,  121 

torquatus,  126 
Varanus  gouldii,  178 
Vervet,  87 
Vicunia,  55,  56 
Viverra  malaccensis,  107 

zibetha,  107 
Vulpes  fulvus,  101 

fuh'tts  argentatus,   101 

fuh'us  decussatus,  101 

macrotis,  102 

macrotis  neomexicanus,   108 

lagopus,  108 

velox,  101 
Vulture,  bearded,  145 

black,  144 

eared,  144 

griffon,  144 

king,  143 

yellow-headed,  144 
Walrus,  Atlantic,  79 
Wapiti,  Altai,  70 

American,  57 

tashkent,  70 
Wart-hog,  50 
Waterbuck,  sing-sing,  41 
Waterfall,  22 
White-tailed  deer,  43 
Wichita  Game  Reserve,  28 
Wild-fowl  pond,  153 
Wolf,  gray,  99 

prairie,  99,  100 

Tasmanian,  103 
Xenopus  laei'is,  184 
Yaguarundi  cat,  106 
Zalophus  californianus,  78 
Zebra,  Chapman,  66 

Grant,  64,  65 

Grevy,  65 

mountain,  64 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

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This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


OCT24  1975 
CCT24 


_ -Series  444 


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